Tereshkova

Tereshkova, Valentina Vladimirovna (born March 6, 1937) is a Russian pilot, cosmonaut, and politician who became the first woman to fly in space. Her historic flight on the Soviet Vostok program marked a significant milestone in space exploration and gender representation in science and engineering.

Early life and selection for spaceflight

Tereshkova grew up in a working-class family and worked in a textile factory before becoming an accomplished parachutist. Her experience as a skydiver helped her become part of the first group of female cosmonaut candidates selected by the Soviet space program in the early 1960s. She underwent rigorous training alongside other trainees to prepare for orbital spaceflight.

Spaceflight

On June 16, 1963, Tereshkova launched aboard Vostok 6 and spent approximately 71 hours in space, completing about 48 orbits of the Earth. She orbited independently in her capsule, conducted physiological experiments, and communicated with mission control. Her mission was designed to study the effects of spaceflight on a woman and to test spacecraft systems under flight conditions. Tereshkova became the first woman to fly in space, a achievement widely celebrated in the Soviet Union and around the world.

Later career and legacy

After her spaceflight, Tereshkova continued to hold public roles in the Soviet Union and, later, in Russia. She served in political bodies and participated in organizations promoting science, education, and international cooperation. Tereshkova remains a prominent symbol of women’s participation in space exploration and is honored for her pioneering contributions to aerospace history.