Putin congratulated Tereshkova on her birthday – Kommersant

Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated the first female cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova on her birthday; today she turned 87 years old. In the congratulatory telegram the head of state noted the enormous contribution of Mrs. Tereshkova to the development of domestic astronautics.

“You belong to the illustrious galaxy of brave, strong-willed people devoted to the Motherland. Your legendary feat, enormous contribution to the development of domestic cosmonautics, your entire heroic biography are rightfully inscribed in the history of our country and serve as a worthy example for young people,” says the telegram published on the Kremlin website. Separately, Vladimir Putin highlighted the active civic position of Valentina Tereshkova and her significant social and legislative activities.

Valentina Tereshkova was born in 1937 in the Yaroslavl region. In June 1963, Mrs. Tereshkova flew into space as the only crew member and commander of the Vostok-6 spacecraft. The total flight duration was 2 days 22 hours 50 minutes, the ship made 48 orbits around the Earth. She became the first and only woman to fly solo in space.

Valentina Tereshkova is a full holder of the Order of Merit for the Fatherland. She was also awarded the Order of Alexander Nevsky and the Order of Honor. At 58, Ms. Tereshkova became the first female general in the history of the Russian army.