Shooting for the Stars
Tereshkova flew into space on June 16, 1963, on the three-day Vostok 6 mission. After 48 orbits and 71 hours, she returned to Earth, having spent more time in space than all U. S. astronauts combined to that date.
A textile worker from a modest family, Tereshkova became interested in parachuting at a young age. Tereshkova and four other women were part of the first all-female cosmonaut training group in 1961, but only Tereshkova ever completed a flight.
After Tereshkova's landmark mission, it would take another 20 years for the United States to send a woman into space. Since then, a total of 57 women from nine different countries have blasted off.
Chinese astronaut Wang Yaping heads for the launch site shortly before her mission to dock with a space lab on June 11.
NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg was aboard the International Space Station and China sent its second-ever female astronaut, Wang Yaping, to work on its orbiting space module. However, Tereshkova remained the only woman to complete a solo flight.
In recent years, NASA has run into trouble with funding. However, this new class of astronaut candidates suggests that NASA is looking ahead to the future of space exploration. The group includes the first female fighter pilot to become an astronaut in almost two decades, as well as a female helicopter pilot.
A. Since then, many astronauts have conquered the space.
B. Two women have been in orbit in recent years.
C. However, her parents thought it dangerous to do so and tried to stop her.
D. Currently, there are no American spacecraft that can carry humans to space.
E. Sally Ride became the first female American woman to leave Earth on June 18, 1983.
F. It took place just two years after Yuri Gagarin achieved the first piloted spaceflight in 1961.
G. Her experience in parachute jumping led to her being selected as a cosmonaut by the Russian government.
