The first woman in space was Valentina Tereshkova, a Soviet cosmonaut. She flew on June 16, 1963, aboard the Vostok 6 spacecraft, becoming the first woman to travel into space. During her mission, she orbited the Earth 48 times and spent almost three days in space. Tereshkova's historic flight was a significant milestone in the space race and women's achievements in science and exploration. She later became a prominent figure in promoting space exploration and women's rights, continuing to work in politics and public life for many years.