Valentina Tereshkova made history on June 16, 1963, by becoming the first woman to journey into outer space as a Soviet cosmonaut; she is also the only woman to have been on a solo space mission till date. Her remarkable story is a testament to her bravery, determination and pioneering spirit.
Tereshkova was born on March 6, 1937, in Yaroslavl, Russia. She was a textile factory worker and an amateur skydiver before being selected to join the Soviet space program in 1962. Tereshkova’s experience as a parachutist made her a strong candidate for the program.
On June 16, 1963, Tereshkova piloted the Russian Vostok 6 spacecraft on a solo mission, spending almost three days in space and completing 48 Earth orbits. She had to endure the physical demands of space travel, including weightlessness and G-force, besides navigating the spacecraft and operating its complex systems.
Despite these challenges, Tereshkova’s mission was a groundbreaking success, marking a significant milestone in space exploration. Twenty-six years old at the time of her spaceflight, she remains the youngest woman to have flown in space under the international definition of 100 km altitude, the youngest woman to fly in Earth’s orbit, and the only woman to have been on a solo space mission till date.
After her spaceflight, Tereshkova became a national and international role model. She received congratulatory telegrams and letters from around the world. Women were particularly excited about her flight. Tereshkova made 42 trips abroad on invitation between 1963 and 1970. She was bestowed with numerous awards and accolades.
Tereshkova graduated from the Zhukovsky Air Force Engineering Academy in 1969 and re-qualified for spaceflight, but never went into outer space again. By 1976, she was a colonel in the Soviet Air Force. In April 1977, she earned a doctorate in aeronautical engineering. She retired from the Air Force in 1997, having attained the rank of major general.
Tereshkova has served in the Soviet parliament as well as in the Russian legislature in many roles, and continues her association with the Russian space programme as a cosmonaut instructor.
Tereshkova’s achievement has inspired countless women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Her demonstration of the capabilities of women in spaceflight paved the way for future generations of women in space.
Image: A postage stamp issued by the Soviet Union in 1963 to commemorate Valentina Tereshkova’s achievement as the first woman to journey into outer space. Courtesy Wikimedia Commons.