Valentina Tereshkova
Awards & Honours
12
Awards Won
4
Honours
2
Rankings
4
Records
Tereshkova's place in history is secure as the first woman in space and the only woman to have flown a solo orbital mission. Her 1963 flight on Vostok 6 made her a global icon at age 26, a record as the youngest woman to orbit Earth that still stands. She is the last surviving cosmonaut from the Vostok program. Beyond space, she achieved the rank of major general in the Russian Air Force, the highest rank ever held by a woman in that service. Her political career includes three terms in the State Duma and a role in amending Russia's constitution. She has been honored by more than 40 nations, reflecting her status as a symbol of Soviet achievement and a pioneer for women in science.
Awards
Honours & Distinctions
Hero of the Soviet Union
Awarded for her spaceflight.
United Nations Gold Medal of Peace
Awarded for promoting peace through space exploration.
Order of Gagarin
Russia's highest space award.
Major General
Highest rank ever achieved by a woman in the Russian military.
Rankings & Lists
First woman in space
Youngest woman to orbit Earth
Records & Feats
First woman in space
First woman to travel into space, aboard Vostok 6.
Only solo spaceflight by a woman
Her Vostok 6 mission remains the only solo spaceflight ever conducted by a woman.
Youngest woman to orbit Earth
At age 26, she is the youngest woman to have orbited Earth.
Highest-ranking woman in Russian military
Retired as a Major General, the highest rank held by a woman in the Russian Air Force.