Valentina Tereshkova

Born

March 6, 1937 (age 89)

Known as

astronaut, politician, military personnel, engineer, aircraft pilot, university teacher

Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova is a Russian engineer, politician, and former Soviet cosmonaut. She was the first woman in space, having flown a solo mission on Vostok 6 on 16 June 1963. She orbited the Earth 48 times, spent almost three days in space, and is the only woman to have been on a solo space mission. She is the last surviving Vostok programme cosmonaut. At just twenty-six years old at the time of her spaceflight, she remains the youngest and first woman to orbit Earth. During her cosmonaut career, Tereshkova entered the political arena, serving in the Supreme Soviet from 1966 to 1989. Since 2011, she serves as a Member of the State Duma.

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