The name of the first woman to fly in space is Valentina Tereshkova. She was a Soviet cosmonaut who flew aboard Vostok 6 on June 16, 1963. Tereshkova became an enduring symbol of women's contributions to space exploration, completing 48 orbits around Earth during her three-day mission. Her selection as a cosmonaut was groundbreaking, and she remains the only woman to have been on a solo space mission. After her flight, Tereshkova continued to work in the fields of science and aeronautics and has been an inspiration for women pursuing careers in STEM and space exploration.