First woman in space keeps flying

Carla Bianpoen, Contributor, Jakarta

It's I, Chayka! "I see the horizon -- a light blue, a beautiful band. The Earth -- it is so beautiful!" This is what the world heard forty years ago, as the world's first ever woman orbited in space. She was also the first solo female cosmonaut. Chayka (seagull) was her call sign.

Valentina Vladimirovna Nikolayeva Tereshkova was only 26-years-old when she boarded the Vostok-6 spacecraft which lifted off from Tyuratam Launch Center (Baikonur Cosmodrome) on June 16, 1963.

Although initially meant to remain in space just for one day, her condition made it possible to remain in space for nearly three days, orbiting the Earth 48 times, once every 88 minutes, and seeing a new dawn every one-and-a-half hours.

Smiling on Soviet and European TV, pencil and logbook floating weightlessly before her, Valentina, or Valya by her nickname, was Russia's primadonna who made instant history. On June 19, 1963, she broke through the Earth's atmosphere and parachuted from the Vostok-6, landing in the northeast regions of Qaraghandy, Kazakhstan.

The Soviets had once again proven themselves victors over America in the space race. Even more important was that Valentina proved that women had the same resistance as men to the physical and psychological stresses of space. She had opened the door for other women in Russia and the world at large.

Now, how did Valentina Tereshkova come to be a cosmonaut and one who continues to inspire? Forty years ago, for a woman to have a single thought towards space was something surrealistic, let alone to dream of orbiting the earth. Even for Valya, who was a hobby parachutist, it might have been a bit far-fetched, although parachuting gave her that feeling of freedom like a bird after working long hours, together with her widowed mother andelder sister in a textile plant.

Perhaps it was her mother's statement after Yuri Gagarin had made history by becoming the first man in space (1961). Everyone was filled with excitement. "Now that a man has gone into space, next time it will be a woman's turn", said her mother.

Little did she foresee that the words she then uttered would have an immediate impact on Valya, her daughter.

Was it pure coincidence or just a mother's dream come true when after Gagarin's historic space flight, the Soviet space program began to consider sending women into space in an effort to achieve another First to outdo the United States? Whatever it was, Valentina Tereshkova, like many others, applied and, together with four other women was selected to train as a cosmonaut in 1962. Overseen by Yuri Gagarin, the first person in space, the selection process began with Tereshkova coming out as the final choice.

The basic training was the same as that of the male cosmonauts. It included classroom study, parachute jumps and time in an acrobatic jet. The program was tougher than Tereshkova had expected, both physically and mentally. Fellow cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin was quoted as saying, "It was hard for her to master rocket techniques, study spaceship designs and equipment, but she tackled the job stubbornly and devoted much of her own time to study, poring over books and notes in the evening". Tereshkova believed that when you have a dream and dedicate all your strength to it, you can achieve it without fail. And achieve she did!

Tereshkova became the people's heroine, the primadonna, the symbol of Soviet glory. No less than Nikita Khruschev communicated with her while she was in space and he personally welcomed her to Red Square in Moscow after her flight. She received the Order of Lenin medal; was honored as a Hero of the Soviet Union; and received an honorary commission in the Soviet Air Force. She became a spokeswoman for the Soviet Union. In this role she received the United Nations Gold Medal of Peace; the Simba International Women's Movement Award and the Joliot-Curie Gold Medal, in addition to many medals and awards from scientific and public organizations, as well from foreign countries.

Indonesia awarded her the Order of the Star medal during her visit her in November 1963.

Although she never went into space again, she has continued striving towards the fulfillment of her and her country's ideals.

In 1969, she graduated with honors from the Zhukovsky Airforce Engineering Academy and received a "pilot-cosmonaut-engineer" qualification. Thereafter she obtained a PhD of Science, and has since written numerous scientific papers.

She was chosen for several political positions and was prominent as the head of the Soviet Women's Committee, as a member of the Supreme Soviet, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet, the Central Committee of the Communist Party, Deputy President of the International Democratic Women's Federation.

In 1975, she was the Soviet representative to the UN Conference for the International Women's Year in Mexico City. The Greatest Woman of the 20th Century, as the British association Annual Women's Assembly named her in 2000, has been the head of the Russian Center for International Scientific and Cultural Cooperation since 1994 and has been a member of the editorial board of the all-Russian popular-science magazine Polyot (Flight) since 1998.

Tereshkova's successful involvement in space and science has never deterred her from her womanhood. In her 1970 article on Women in Space in the American journal Impact of Science on Society she made it clear that a woman should always remain a woman and nothing feminine should be alien to her. At the same time she said that no work done by a woman in the field of science or culture or whatever, however vigorous or demanding, can enter into conflict with her ancient "wonderful mission" -- to love, to be loved, and with her craving for the bliss of motherhood. On the contrary, these two aspects of her life can complement each other perfectly. This she proved in her personal life. She married fellow cosmonaut Andrian Nikolayev, and gave birth to a daughter, Elena Andrionovna, who was born in 1964 and is now a medical doctor.

Tereshkova's historical achievement 40 years ago continues to be a symbol of Russia's glory, as she (now 66) travels the world forging friendships between nations. Epitomizing courage, strength and endurance, she continues to inspire the furthering of space science, technology, culture, equality and peace.

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A glimpse of Tereshkova's grandeur can be seen in the photo exhibition to mark the 40th anniversary of her flight in space at the Russian Center for Science and Culture, Jl. Diponegoro 12, Menteng, South Jakarta, and will run until July 4.