Astronuat Sally Ride – Image Credit NASA

Fifty years ago, on June 16, 1963, Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman in space, a flight undertaken for the propaganda purpose of illustrating the equality of women in the USSR.

Valentina Tereshkova First Woman in Space – Image Credit RSC Energia

Due to the political and social attitudes of the time, it would be another 20 years before the first US female astronaut, Dr. Sally Ride, would fly on the Space Shuttle. Unlike Tereshkova’s one off-flight, though, Dr Ride was the vanguard of a wave of female astronauts, not only from the United States, who would participate in space activities on the same footing as their male colleagues-as Mission Specialists, Pilots, Shuttle Commanders and Commanders of the International Space Station.

On Sunday June 16, 2.00pm – 3.00pm, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first spaceflight by a woman, Kerrie Dougherty, the Powerhouse museum’s Curator of Space Technology, will present an overview of the history of women in space, from the selection of Valentina Tereshkova and the first group of Soviet female cosmonauts to the participation of women as astronauts in space programs around the world today.

The presentation is free with Museum entry. Members no need to book, but should RSVP to play@phm.gov.au

Further information at http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/talks/space.php

BBC Radio 4 will broadcast ‘The First Woman in Space’ on Saturday, June 8 at 10:30 BST. Listen on the web at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b026x9mr

First UK astronaut Helen Sharman GB1MIR
https://amsat-uk.org/about/history/first-uk-astronaut-helen-sharman-gb1mir/

Gathering of Female Astronauts and Former Johnson Space Center Director
https://amsat-uk.org/2013/03/12/gathering-of-female-astronauts-and-former-johnson-space-center-director/

SpaceKate: The time we took on Unilever – and won!
http://spacekate.com/2013/the-time-we-took-on-unliever-and-won/

After her return to Earth the first UK astronaut Helen Sharman visited
the Harrogate Ladies’ College club station G0HCA
From left to right Anna-Karin G7IRR, Helen Sharman GB1MIR, Richard Horton G3XWH, Katy G7NST