Is it accurate to say this is the Russian equivalent of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum? If not, what would be? I'll put it on my bucket list.
I think the Museum of Cosmonautics in Moscow near VDNKh would fit that better. I'm very biased as I've been dozens of times due to it being free to students and conveniently located to where I lived in Moscow, but it's massive and directly under a huge monument to the space program, plus the park around it is full of dedications and smaller monuments to various figures in the program.
This. I was surprised article doesn't mention it but its just an amazing place to visit. The so-called "Monument to the Conquerors of Space" is unlike anything you may ever encounter elsewhere and that itself is worth a visit. You cannot possibly stand under that monument and not admire the massive courage, perseverance and ambition of these trail blazers. This monument is so huge that its hard to even capture in single frame and if you manage to do somehow, photos don't convey its full magnificence.
