Top 10 Remarkable Facts about Valentina Tereshkova

A photo of Valentina Tereshkova by Mikhail Klimentev – Wikimedia commons

Top 10 Remarkable Facts about Valentina Tereshkova

Valentina Tereshkova was a trailblazing astronaut from Russia who made history as the first woman to journey into the final frontier of space. In 1963, she climbed aboard the Vostok 6 spacecraft and set off on a solo mission to take her on a three-day voyage among the stars.

When she returned to Earth, she was hailed as a hero and received numerous awards and accolades for her groundbreaking flight, including the Order of Lenin and the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

In addition to her career as an astronaut, Tereshkova was also a prominent figure in the world of politics, serving as a member of the Soviet and Russian parliaments and working tirelessly to promote social and political causes. Let’s learn about the top ten remarkable facts about Valentina Tereshkova.

1. She was born on 6th March 1937

Valentina Tereshkova, a pioneering astronaut and stateswoman hailing from Russia, was born on March 6, 1937, in the small village of Maslennikovo located in the Yaroslavl Oblast region, approximately 250 miles north of Moscow. As the youngest offspring in a family of three, with a father who was a tractor driver, Tereshkova grew up during a time of intense focus on space exploration by the Soviet Union.

She developed a proclivity for skydiving at an early age, ultimately joining a sports club to learn discipline and make over 50 jumps. Tereshkova’s aptitude for skydiving would later prove to be a crucial factor in her selection as an astronaut.

2. Tereshkova was young when she became interested in skydiving

Valentina Tereshkova harboured a fascination for the high-altitude sport of skydiving from an early age, which likely signifies that she developed a keen interest in it and a desire to learn more about it at an early stage in her life. It is unclear from the available information exactly how young Tereshkova was when she first cultivated an interest in skydiving, but it appears that it was an activity that she took pleasure in and was ardently passionate about.

To pursue her fascination with skydiving, Tereshkova enrolled in a local sports club where she could learn the discipline of parachute jumping. This likely indicates that she joined a skydiving program or club that provided training and instruction on how to safely exit an aircraft and descend to the ground using a parachute and she was able to learn how to parachute and make over 50 jumps in total.

3. Tereshkova was selected to participate in the Soviet Union’s space program in 1961

In 1961, Valentina Tereshkova was selected to participate in the Soviet Union’s highly prestigious and competitive space program. She was chosen as part of a group of female cosmonauts known as the “Vostok 6.” It appears that Tereshkova was among a select group of women who were chosen to undergo rigorous training and preparation for space travel.

The Vostok program, the Soviet Union’s inaugural manned spaceflight program, entailed a series of spacecraft designed to transport a single cosmonaut into orbit. The Vostok 6 mission, in which Tereshkova participated, marked the first instance of a woman being sent into space.

4. She was inducted into the Hall of Fame

The International Air & Space Hall of Fame is an organization that recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the fields of aviation and space exploration. Hall of Fame honours individuals who have made significant contributions to the advancement of aviation and space exploration through their work, research, or achievements.

In 2013, Valentina Tereshkova was inducted into the International Air & Space Hall of Fame, likely in recognition of her groundbreaking achievements as the first woman to travel to space. It is not clear from the information provided what specific event or ceremony was held to commemorate Tereshkova’s induction into the Hall of Fame.

5. Tereshkova orbited the Earth 48 times

Valentina Tereshkova was the first woman to fly to space and accomplished this feat in 1963. She flew on the Vostok 6 mission, which was launched on June 16, 1963, and lasted for three days. During the mission, Tereshkova orbited the Earth 48 times and conducted various scientific experiments. Her mission was considered a great success and she received many accolades for her achievement, including the Order of Lenin, which is the highest civilian honour in the Soviet Union.

6. Political and Military Career of Valentina Tereshkova

Following the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991, Valentina Tereshkova remained engaged in political endeavours and sought a position in the national State Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, in 1995. Despite her efforts, she was not successful in her bid for election.

However, she later attained the rank of major general in the Russian Air Force. In 2003, Tereshkova ran for a seat in the State Duma once more, and in 2008, she was elected to the Yaroslavl Oblast Duma, a regional parliament. Additionally, Tereshkova has expressed a desire to venture to Mars, even if it meant embarking on a one-way mission.

7. Valentina Tereshkova proposed to lift the term limits for president Putin

A photo of Vladimir Putin and Valentina Tereshkova by The Presidential Press and Information Office – Wikimedia commons

The process of amending the Constitution of Russia is a complex and formal procedure that involves multiple steps and requires the approval of a large number of government officials and lawmakers. During the drafting process for the 2020 amendments to the Constitution of Russia, Valentina Tereshkova proposed to lift the term limits for president Putin.

This would have allowed Putin, who was serving as president at the time, to potentially run for re-election after his term was set to expire. It is not clear from the information provided what specific arguments or reasoning Tereshkova used to support her proposal or what the outcome of the proposal was.

8. She was among those who were sanctioned during the Rusian Invasion of Ukraine

In response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of the Treasury added Valentina Tereshkova to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List on September 30, 2022. This action resulted in the freezing of her assets and the prohibition of any dealings with her by U.S. persons.

In December of that year, the European Union also imposed sanctions on various Russian media personalities and politicians, including Tereshkova, which entailed the freezing of assets and the banning of entry into EU member states. These measures were likely taken as a form of diplomatic or economic pressure in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which was a significant and controversial international event.

9. Natalie was once married to Andriyan Nikolayev

A photo of Andrian Nikolaev by RIA Novosti – Wikimedia commons

Andriyan Nikolayev was an accomplished cosmonaut from the Soviet Union, who gained notoriety for his participation in the Vostok 3 mission, which elevated him to the esteemed rank of being the third human to journey into outer space. Born on September 5, 1929, in the village of Chuguyevka located in the Far Eastern region of the Soviet Union, Nikolayev grew up during an era in which the Soviet Union was actively engaged in the exploration of space.

Before being chosen as a cosmonaut, Nikolayev served as a military pilot. In preparation for his spaceflight, he underwent intense training. In addition to his professional achievements, Nikolayev is also renowned for his relationship with Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman to travel to space.

The couple married in 1963 and had one child together, but eventually divorced. Despite the end of their union, Nikolayev and Tereshkova remained close and collaborated on various space-related and political endeavours. They later, however, split due to personal issues and Valentina was married to Yuli Shaposhnikov, a surgeon.

10. Valentina Tereshkova was honoured with several accolades

In 1967, a sculpture of Tereshkova was commissioned by Gregory Postnikov and displayed in Moscow’s Cosmonaut Alley. Additionally, a monument has been erected in the Bayevsky District of Altai Territory, Siberia, near the site of Tereshkova’s landing. In 1970, Tereshkova became one of the first groups of living individuals to have a lunar crater named after them, with the “Tereshkova crater” located on the far side of the Moon.

Although Tereshkova was a member of a group of pioneering female cosmonauts, she was the only one to ultimately fly in space. It took nearly two decades for another woman, Svetlana Savitskaya, to follow in her footsteps.

Tereshkova’s achievements have also been the inspiration for several musical works, including the songs “Valentina” by Komputer and Kurt Swinghammer, as well as the short film Valentina’s Dream, featuring Rebecca Front as Tereshkova and based on an interview with the former cosmonaut.