a space museum within a church
If you can’t judge a book by its cover, it’s safe to say you never know what’s hiding inside an old building, either. Head 80km out of the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and you’ll find the Museum of Space Exploration, conveniently located within an old wooden church. The museum is a gold mine for Space Race enthusiasts, and boasts rare Soviet objects including Yuri Gagarin’s training parachute, a rocket engine and a number of real-deal space suits. Although mass hasn’t been held there for many years, the church itself dates back to 1891 – which might explain why the Ukrainian and Russian Orthodox communities are also trying to claim the building for their own. While the opposing churches hash it out, photographer Niels Ackermann has thankfully captured some stunning shots of the building's interior. Here's hoping it stays open for future space nerds.
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