Her call sign was “Chaika,” which means Seagull, a lovely nickname for a woman who had a very tough mission. The first woman to fly in space, she survived a selection process that started with 400 candidates, was winnowed to five, and then to Tereshkova alone. Launched into orbit on June 16, 1963 aboard Vostok 6, she flew a tandem mission with Vostok 5 cosmonaut Valery Bykovsky, who blasted off two days earlier and was waiting for her in space when she arrived. Tereshkova, who was just 26 at the time, spent nearly three days aloft. Her accomplishment was celebrated as just the beginning of great things for Soviet women in space. It wasn’t. No other female cosmonaut flew for another 19 years.
The Rise of the Spacewoman: 10 Women Who Conquered the Final Frontier
Riding rocket ships was once an all-boys' game. Valentina Tereshkova changed that for the Russians and Sally Ride changed it for the U.S. With the passing of Ride, here's a look at some of those who came before and followed.