Americans tuned in to witness Sally Ride's groundbreaking journey into space in June 1983, marking a historic moment as the first American woman to do so. However, she wasn't the trailblazer in this regard.
Valentina Tereshkova, a Russian cosmonaut, had already etched her name in the annals of history two decades earlier, in June 1963. She achieved this feat aboard the Soviet shuttle Vostok 6, becoming the first woman ever to venture into space. Not only did Tereshkova make history as a woman in space, but she also held the distinction of being the youngest person to do so at the time. Her solo mission saw her orbiting Earth an impressive 48 times before returning safely.
Valentina Tereshkova's Impoverished Beginnings
Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova was born in 1937 in an impoverished village situated nearly 200 miles north of Moscow. Her birthplace lacked basic amenities such as electricity and running water. Even decades later, in 2010, reports indicated that the village was home to just nine inhabitants.
At the tender age of two, Tereshkova suffered the loss of her father, Vladimir, who perished in World War II. Vladimir, a tractor driver, was conscripted to serve on a tank and met his demise on a frozen battlefield mere months after his deployment.
As World War II raged on, the Soviet Union found itself engulfed in conflict, with German forces advancing towards Moscow. Tereshkova, growing up amidst these tumultuous times, recalled her childhood as being part of a generation deprived of toys due to the ravages of war.
Despite harboring aspirations of becoming a railroad engineer, Tereshkova's dreams were thwarted by the harsh realities of poverty and her mother's ailing health. To support her family, she took up employment first at a tire factory and later at a textile plant.
Despite her demanding schedule, Tereshkova pursued her education diligently, attending school at night while also working. Her perseverance paid off when she earned an engineering degree from the Textile Technical Institute in 1960.
Valentina Tereshkova: The Russian Pioneer Who Made History As The First Woman In SpaceDriven by an insatiable thirst for adventure, Tereshkova sought more than the confines of her factory job. In 1958, she joined an airclub and embarked on training as a parachute jumper. With an impressive tally of 160 parachute jumps, Tereshkova expressed her passion, declaring, "I felt I wanted to do it every day."
The dawn of the space age captivated Tereshkova's imagination, particularly when Yuri Gagarin made history as the first human in space in April 1961. Inspired by this monumental achievement, Tereshkova and her airclub comrades watched with awe as Gagarin soared into the cosmos.
After the inspirational flight, Tereshkova's mother declared, "Now a man has flown in space; it is a woman's turn next." And it was.
Becoming The First Woman In Space
When the opportunity arose for women to join the space program, Tereshkova seized it eagerly. Following Gagarin's historic flight, she wasted no time in volunteering for cosmonaut training, penning a letter to the Soviet government expressing her willingness to participate. By December 1961, Tereshkova was among the select group of five women chosen for the groundbreaking mission.
Despite her excitement for the mission, Tereshkova was bound by strict secrecy protocols imposed by the Soviet authorities. She couldn't even confide in her own family about her involvement in the space program. To her relatives, she remained a member of a specialized parachute team, unaware of the historic role she was destined to play.
Valentina Tereshkova: The Russian Pioneer Who Made History As The First Woman In SpaceTereshkova's fabricated cover story held a kernel of truth. Given the necessity for Soviet cosmonauts to eject from their capsules upon reentry into Earth's atmosphere, parachute training held paramount importance for their safety and mission success.
Over the ensuing 18 months, Tereshkova and her female counterparts embarked on an intensive training regimen. Alongside simulated spaceflight exercises, the women devoted themselves to gymnastics to fortify their physical resilience. Tereshkova herself endured extended periods of isolation in specialized chambers, acclimating to the confined environment she would face within the capsule.
In a momentous decision, the Soviets selected Tereshkova to undertake the historic solo mission aboard Vostok 6 in June 1963, making her the focal point of international attention as she ventured into the cosmos.
On June 16, 1963, Valentina Tereshkova enjoyed a light breakfast before embarking on her historic journey into space. With the call sign "chaika," meaning seagull, Tereshkova was launched into orbit, marking her as the first woman to venture into space.
As the space capsule ascended into the sky, Tereshkova's exuberance echoed through the spacecraft as she exclaimed, "Hey sky, take off your hat. I'm on my way!"
Giving The Soviets A Leg Up In The Space Race
Valentina Tereshkova: The Russian Pioneer Who Made History As The First Woman In SpaceIt wasn't until Tereshkova's televised blastoff that her family discovered the truth about her clandestine activities. Reflecting on the moment, Tereshkova confessed that her mother was deeply distressed by the deception, and it took considerable time for her to forgive her daughter.
Of her flight, Tereshkova recalled, "As I saw the planet from space I realized how small Earth is, and how fragile, and that it could be destroyed very quickly."
During her time in space, Tereshkova conducted various experiments and diligently monitored the capsule's systems. Spending a total of 71 hours in orbit, she eventually reentered the Earth's atmosphere. As the capsule descended to 23,000 feet, Tereshkova ejected and gracefully descended to Siberia beneath the safety of her parachute.
Upon landing a quarter mile from the capsule, Tereshkova promptly reached out to the Soviet Premier to deliver the news of her triumphant mission. "Valentina, I am very happy and proud that a girl from the Soviet Union is the first woman to fly into space and to operate such cutting-edge equipment," Nikita Krushchev reportedly told the cosmonaut.
Auto DraftThe success of Tereshkova's mission stood as a significant victory for the Soviet Union in the ongoing space race. Her achievement of completing 48 orbits around the Earth surpassed the cumulative orbits of all American astronauts at that time.
Following her historic spaceflight, Valentina Tereshkova captured the world's attention, becoming an international sensation. Her marriage to another cosmonaut in November 1963 and the subsequent birth of their daughter in 1964, the first child born to parents who had both been in space, garnered global headlines.
Despite her remarkable feat, Tereshkova chose not to return to space. Instead, she dedicated her life to championing women's rights and advocating for further advancements in space exploration. Her involvement in carrying the Olympic torch in both 2008 and 2014 further solidified her enduring legacy.
Valentina Tereshkova's Controversial Legacy Today
Auto DraftSending the first woman into space stood as a significant strategic move for the Soviet Union, symbolizing a notable triumph in the intense space race. This accomplishment was magnified by the fact that the United States did not actively pursue such a milestone until two decades later.
During the 1950s and 1960s, NASA enforced a strict prohibition against women participating in the space program. Despite efforts by individuals like Jerrie Cobb to challenge this exclusionary policy through appeals to Congress and NASA, their endeavors were met with official rejection. At that time, NASA's perspective on women's involvement in space missions was limited, as evidenced by a 1971 report that suggested their sole potential role was to provide "direct sexual release."
Valentina Tereshkova's historic spaceflight was met with disdain by some within NASA, who dismissed it as nothing more than a publicity stunt. An anonymous NASA official even expressed visceral disgust at the very notion of women venturing into space, revealing the prevailing attitudes of the time.
In the Western media, Tereshkova faced belittlement, being reduced to the status of a mere textile factory worker. However, Tereshkova fiercely contested this portrayal, asserting that her rigorous training and successful solo flight were testament to her professional competence, which she believed was on par with that of any male counterpart.
Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, Tereshkova experienced a decline in her political influence and eventually departed from the space program in 1997. By 2022, at the age of 85, she is believed to have retired to Moscow.
In 2011, Tereshkova transitioned into a role as a lawmaker in Russia's Chamber of Parliament. However, her support for a constitutional amendment in 2020, which could potentially extend President Vladimir Putin's tenure until 2036, sparked controversy. This move faced widespread opposition, leading to petitions calling for the removal of her name from a street and the stripping of her honorific titles.
Despite facing criticism, Tereshkova has remained steadfast in her position, dismissing her detractors as merely "unpatriotic" while showing little sign of being swayed by the opposition.
Regarding her groundbreaking career as a cosmonaut, Tereshkova's stance was: "Anyone who has spent any time in space will love it for the rest of their lives. I achieved my childhood dream of the sky."
