Korolyov, Moscow Oblast

Korolyov or Korolev () is an industrial city in Moscow Oblast, Russia. It is well known as the cradle of Soviet and Russian space exploration. As of the 2010 Census, its population was 183,402, the largest as a science city. As of 2018, the population is more than 222,000 people.

It was known as Kaliningrad () from 1938 to 1996. It was the leading Soviet center for the making of anti-tank and air-defense guns. In 1946, in the aftermath of World War II, the artillery plant was reconstructed for the making of rockets, launch vehicles, and spacecraft.

Russian Mission Control Center is also located in Korolyov. Though the real control is decentralized due to security reasons and all space aircraft may be controlled from many different locations across Russia, the historic center of control is still in Korolev, and is called FCC - Flights Control Center.

In July 1996, the city was renamed in honor of Sergei Korolev, the father of the Soviet/Russian space program, who died in 1966. Since 1997, Korolyov has hosted the International Space Olympics, an annual competition for young people to promote space  research.

 Demographics 
As of 1 January 2016, Korolyov was in 93rd out of 1112 cities in Russia based on demographics.

On 2 June 2014, the city of Yubileniy officially became a part of Korolyov. With a total population of 220 thousand people, Korolyov became the third largest city in Moscow Oblast based on population after Balashikha (428,400) and Khimki (239,967).

 Twin towns and sister cities 

Korolyov is twinned with:

  Zhukovsky, Russia
  Moscow, Russia
  Khimki, Russia
  Baikonur, Kazakhstan

 References 

Category:Cities and towns in Moscow Oblast