Valentina Tereshkova - biography.

Valentina Tereshkova - biography. Soviet cosmonaut Birth March 6, 1937 Place of Birth Maslennikovo, in the Yaroslavl' region of the former USSR, currently part of Russia Known for The first woman in space Career 1962 Was selected as one of five women to train as a cosmonaut June 16, 1963 Launched into space aboard Vostok 6, which returned to Earth June 19 1966 Elected to the Supreme Soviet, the legislative body of the USSR 1968-1987 Served as chairwoman of the Soviet Women's Committee 1969 Graduated from Zhukovsky Air Force Engineering Academy 1974 Became a member of the Central Committee, the governing body of the Communist Party 1976 Received a Candidate of Technical Science degree 1989 Was elected to the Congress of People's Deputies, the legislative body that replaced the Supreme Soviet April 1994 Was selected to lead the Russian Center of International Scientific and Cultural Cooperation 1992 Was elected Presidium Chairwoman of the Russian Association of International Cooperation Did You Know In her single space flight, Tereshkova spent more time in orbit than all of the U.S. Mercury (1958-1963) astronauts combined. As with all Vostok landings, Tereshkova ejected from the capsule 6000 m (20,000 ft) above the ground and descended by parachute. Tereshkova was a cotton mill worker and a parachutist before becoming a cosmonaut. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.