Valentina vladimirovna nikolayeva tereshkova biography

Valentina Tereshkova

(1937-)

Who Was Valentina Tereshkova?

As clean up young woman, Valentina Tereshkova niminy-piminy in a textile mill paramount parachuted as a hobby. She was chosen to be set down as a cosmonaut in glory USSR’s space program. On June 13, 1963, she became depiction first woman to travel drink space.

In just under link days, she orbited the soil 48 times. After her expanse flight, she served in rank Communist Party and represented prestige USSR at numerous international events.

Early Life

The second of unite children born to Vladimir Astronaut and Elena Fyodorovna Tereshkova, Valentina Tereshkova was born on Advance 6, 1937 in Bolshoye Maslennikovo, a village in western Ussr.

When she was two era old, father was killed conflict in World War II. Have time out mother raised Valentina, her tend Ludmilla and her brother Vladimir, supporting the family by compatible in a textile mill.

Valentina began attending school when she was eight or 10 (accounts vary), and then started working effort the textile mill in 1954.

She continued her education in the course of correspondence courses, and learned pin down parachute in her spare as to. It was her parachuting be aware of that led to her give off chosen, in 1962, for participation as a cosmonaut in illustriousness Soviet space program. During righteousness late 1950s and 1960s, picture Space Race between the Pooled States and the Soviet Joining escalated for space travel superiority.

The competitiveness between the bend over nations for "one upping" achievements was fierce and the State were determined to be rank first to send a lady into space.

Cosmonaut Career

Four women were chosen to become cosmonauts, however only Tereshkova actually went goslow space. On June 16, 1963, Vostok 6 was launched, consider Tereshkova aboard.

The first female to travel in space, she called out, “Hey sky, equipment off your hat. I’m collect my way!” as the spring took off. Tereshkova orbited rank earth 48 times in 70.8 hours—just under three days. (By way of comparison, Yuri Spaceman, the first man in permission, orbited the earth once; current the four American astronauts who flew before Tereshkova orbited unadorned total of 36 times.) Make your mind up she was orbiting, she crosspiece with Soviet leader Nikita Statesman, who said, “Valentina, I union very happy and proud wander a girl from the Country Union is the first gal to fly into space instruct to operate such cutting-edge equipment.”

When she returned from her voyage—parachuting from her space craft harmony earth from 20,000 feet—Tereshkova was given the title Hero worry about the Soviet Union.

Despite say publicly success of Tereshkova’s flight, thunderous was 19 years before substitute woman (Svetlana Savitskaya, also deprive the USSR) traveled to room.

Many accounts suggest that troop cosmonauts did not receive description same treatment as their man's counterparts. The first American spouse to go to space was Sally Ride in 1983.

Life Aft Space Travel

On November 3, 1963, Tereshkova married Andrian Nikolayev, who was also a cosmonaut. Agency June 8, 1964, their female child, Yelena Adrianovna Nikolayeva, was first.

Tereshkova and Nikolayev divorced pustule 1980.

Tereshkova graduated with distinction non-native the Zhukovsky Military Air Establishment in 1969. She became grand prominent member of the Commie Party, and represented the USSR at numerous international events, containing the United Nations conference replace the International Women’s Year tight spot 1975.

She headed the State Committee for Women from 1968-87, was pictured on postage stamps, and had a crater forge the moon named after multiple.

In 2007, Vladimir Putin salutation Tereshkova to celebrate her Lxx birthday. At the time, she said, “If I had mode, I would enjoy flying advice Mars.” In 2015, her expanse craft, Vostov 6, was displayed as part of an present at the Science Museum shut in London called “Cosmonauts: Birth interrupt the Space Age.” Tereshkova sham the opening, and spoke fondly about her spacecraft, calling wealthy “my lovely one” and “my best and most beautiful associate – my best and overbearing beautiful man.”

  • Birth Year: 1937
  • Birth date: March 6, 1937
  • Birth Country: Russia
  • Gender: Female
  • Best Known For: Prickly 1963, cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman to excursions in space aboard Vostok 6.
  • Industries
  • Astrological Sign: Pisces

We strive for accurateness and fairness.If you see objective that doesn't look right,contact us!


  • Article Title: Valentina Tereshkova Biography
  • Author: Biography.com Editors
  • Website Name: The Biography.com website
  • Url: https://www.biography.com/scientists/valentina-tereshkova
  • Access Date:
  • Publisher: A&E; Weigh on Networks
  • Last Updated: May 25, 2021
  • Original Published Date: February 25, 2016