New Moon Route Paved!

Oleg Dmitrievich Maslyakov, 1968

Medium: Offset/paper
Dimensions /: 86 H x 59 W
Country: Russian SFSR
Condition: B | Fine - Minor signs of wear

New Moon Route Paved! – Soviet Russia Space propaganda poster from 1968 by O, Maslyakov featuring a red rocket, a star and the moon, framed in a wooden frame on a white wall with soft sunlight

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New Moon Route Paved!' (1968) by Oleg Dmitrievich Maslyakov celebrates Soviet technological achievement and optimism at the height of the Space Race. Created after the successful Zond 5 mission, which circled the Moon and returned safely to Earth, this poster transforms technological achievement into powerful visual propaganda.

The composition builds around a strong diagonal trajectory. At the top, a stylised spacecraft emits a beam of light that expands into a massive red star, dominating the dark blue background. The curved text 'Luna-Zemlya' (Moon-Earth) follows the spacecraft’s arc, visually connecting the journey to its ideological message. Bold typography announcing 'New Route Paved!' anchors the design at the lower right. Maslyakov’s use of a limited palette—red, white, and blue—amplifies the visual impact. The technical rendering of the spacecraft contrasts with the radiating energy of the star, creating a dynamic tension that underscores the poster's central theme.

By morphing the spacecraft’s beam into a red star, Maslyakov suggests that Soviet space exploration naturally extends from socialist progress. Space achievements served to reinforce collective purpose and national pride, positioning the USSR as a leader in both science and ideology. The poster also reflects the optimism of 1968, as the Soviets appeared confident they might be the first to land on the Moon. This confidence, however, was shaken just a year later when the Americans succeeded with the Apollo 11 mission. In response, the Soviets shifted their narrative, downplaying lunar ambitions and emphasising other space goals instead.

Oleg Dmitrievich Maslyakov (1928–2009) studied under N.I. Orekhov and later at the Moscow Art College. Active throughout the 1960s and 1970s, he produced numerous posters celebrating advancements in space, industry, and science. His work earned him the title of Honoured Artist of the RSFSR in 1984, and he served as Chief Artist of the journal Poster from 1985 to 1990.