June 16, 2022
On this date in 1963, Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman in space. This was a solo mission aboard Vostok 6. She orbited the Earth 48 times and spent approximately 3 days in space. Tereshkova remains the only woman in history to complete a solo space flight.
(Left) Valentina Tereshkova in the summer of 1960 following a parachute jump. (Right) Tereshkova aboard the Vostok-6 in 1963. Image credit left: Yaroslavl State Historical-Architectural and Art Museum-Reserve, right: RIA NOVOSTI/Science Photo Library