All Astronauts
LEGENDRetiredROS
LEGENDRetiredROSRoscosmos·🇷🇺 Russia·Born 1937
Valentina Tereshkova
First woman in space (June 16, 1963)
71h
Hours in Space
1
Missions
0
EVAs
—
EVA Time
Hey sky, take off your hat, I'm on my way!
A bird cannot fly with one wing only. Human space flight cannot develop any further without the active participation of women.
Anyone who has spent any time in space will love it for the rest of their lives.
I am ready to fly to Mars, even if I don't return.
Inspirations
Yuri GagarinSergei Korolev
What they aspire to
She has publicly volunteered for a one-way mission to Mars, saying she would go even if she could not return.
Biography
First woman in space. Solo pilot of Vostok 6, orbiting Earth 48 times over nearly 3 days.
Before NASATextile factory assembly worker in Yaroslavl who took up amateur parachuting in her spare time, completing 90+ jumps before being selected as a cosmonaut.
Records & Firsts
Notable accomplishments by Valentina Tereshkova
- First woman in space (June 16, 1963)
- Only woman to fly a solo space mission
- Youngest woman in space at age 26
Mission Timeline
- Pilot-Cosmonaut
Vostok 3KA
Vostok 6
Launch: Jun 16, 1963Landing: Jun 19, 1963Duration: 3 days- First woman in space
- 48 orbits of Earth
Beyond the Mission
Hobbies & Interests
amateur parachutingreading
Causes They Champion
Women in spaceflightSoviet/Russian women's political representationInternational peace through the Soviet Women's Committee
Languages
Russian
Awards & Honors
- Hero of the Soviet Union
- Order of Lenin
- Order of the October Revolution
- UN Gold Medal of Peace
Fun fact
She had to be selected and trained in part because she was an experienced amateur parachutist — Vostok cosmonauts ejected from the capsule and parachuted to the ground separately.
Learn More
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