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Valentina Tereshkova, Woman of Cosmic Caliber

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On March 6, Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space and Hero of the Soviet Union, is celebrating her 75th birthday.

On March 6, Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space and Hero of the Soviet Union, is celebrating her 75th birthday.

© RIA Novosti . Alexander Mokletsov / Go to the mediabankOn March 6, Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space and Hero of the Soviet Union, is celebrating her 75th birthday.
Valentina Tereshkova, a woman of cosmic proportions - Sputnik International
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On March 6, Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space and Hero of the Soviet Union, is celebrating her 75th birthday.
© RIA Novosti . Alexander Mokletsov / Go to the mediabankValentina Tereshkova was born into a peasant family with a Belarusian background. After graduating from a high school in Yaroslavl, Tereshkova worked at the Yaroslavl Tire Plant. She also studied at an evening school for young workers.
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Valentina Tereshkova was born into a peasant family with a Belarusian background. After graduating from a high school in Yaroslavl, Tereshkova worked at the Yaroslavl Tire Plant. She also studied at an evening school for young workers.
© RIA Novosti . Podshivanov / Go to the mediabankProfessor and Ph. D. (Tech.) Valentina Tereshkova has authored more than 50 research papers. While still a worker, Tereshkova became enthralled with flying. This remained her hobby while she studied at a technical school. She also trained at a local air club and performed 163 parachute jumps.
Valentina Tereshkova, a woman of cosmic proportions - Sputnik International
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Professor and Ph. D. (Tech.) Valentina Tereshkova has authored more than 50 research papers. While still a worker, Tereshkova became enthralled with flying. This remained her hobby while she studied at a technical school. She also trained at a local air club and performed 163 parachute jumps.
© RIA Novosti / Go to the mediabankAfter the first successful space missions, Soviet rocket and spacecraft designer Sergei Korolyov decided to send a woman into space.



Valentina Tereshkova, a woman of cosmic proportions - Sputnik International
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After the first successful space missions, Soviet rocket and spacecraft designer Sergei Korolyov decided to send a woman into space.



© RIA Novosti / Go to the mediabankIn early 1962, space officials started looking for prospective lady cosmonauts who had to meet the following criteria: Age, under 30; height, under 170 centimeters; and weight, under 70 kilograms.
Valentina Tereshkova, a woman of cosmic proportions - Sputnik International
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In early 1962, space officials started looking for prospective lady cosmonauts who had to meet the following criteria: Age, under 30; height, under 170 centimeters; and weight, under 70 kilograms.
© RIA Novosti / Go to the mediabankOn June 16, 1963, Tereshkova became the first woman in space. Her mission aboard the Vostok-6 spacecraft lasted almost three days.
Valentina Tereshkova, a woman of cosmic proportions - Sputnik International
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On June 16, 1963, Tereshkova became the first woman in space. Her mission aboard the Vostok-6 spacecraft lasted almost three days.
© RIA Novosti / Go to the mediabankDesigners called the Vostok spacecraft’s cramped cockpit “The Can.” A cosmonaut wearing a space suit could hardly move inside that cockpit. Many specialists agreed that the young woman’s three-day space flight in such conditions was a real heroic feat.
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Designers called the Vostok spacecraft’s cramped cockpit “The Can.” A cosmonaut wearing a space suit could hardly move inside that cockpit. Many specialists agreed that the young woman’s three-day space flight in such conditions was a real heroic feat.
© RIA Novosti / Go to the mediabankAlthough Tereshkova became world-famous overnight, the space flight nearly ended in tragedy. Here is how Tereshkova described it: “The spacecraft had been aligned in such a way that instead of reentering the atmosphere, it would have climbed higher into orbit. Consequently, I would have never returned to Earth. But I noticed the malfunction in time. I told mission control about it, the specialists entered correct data, and I landed.”
Valentina Tereshkova, a woman of cosmic proportions - Sputnik International
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Although Tereshkova became world-famous overnight, the space flight nearly ended in tragedy. Here is how Tereshkova described it: “The spacecraft had been aligned in such a way that instead of reentering the atmosphere, it would have climbed higher into orbit. Consequently, I would have never returned to Earth. But I noticed the malfunction in time. I told mission control about it, the specialists entered correct data, and I landed.”
© RIA Novosti . Valery Shustov / Go to the mediabankOn November 3, 1963, five months after her space flight, Tereshkova married Cosmonaut Andriyan Nikolayev.
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On November 3, 1963, five months after her space flight, Tereshkova married Cosmonaut Andriyan Nikolayev.
© RIA Novosti . Alexander Mokletsov / Go to the mediabankTheir daughter was born a year later.
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Their daughter was born a year later.
© RIA Novosti . Alexander Mokletsov / Go to the mediabankCosmonauts Valentina Tereshkova and Andriyan Nikolayev and their daughter Yelena.
Valentina Tereshkova, a woman of cosmic proportions - Sputnik International
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Cosmonauts Valentina Tereshkova and Andriyan Nikolayev and their daughter Yelena.
© RIA Novosti . Alexander Mokletsov / Go to the mediabankValentina Tereshkova received the title of Hero of the Soviet Union and was awarded the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star Medal under the June 22, 1963 Decree of the Presidium of the USSR Supreme Soviet (Parliament) for her successful space flight and for the courage and heroism displayed during the mission.
Valentina Tereshkova, a woman of cosmic proportions - Sputnik International
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Valentina Tereshkova received the title of Hero of the Soviet Union and was awarded the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star Medal under the June 22, 1963 Decree of the Presidium of the USSR Supreme Soviet (Parliament) for her successful space flight and for the courage and heroism displayed during the mission.
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