In the 1960s Nasukhanova applied to become a cosmonaut four times, but because she was Vainakh and sent into exile, she was considered a "special settler" and member of a "criminal nationality", and could only be allowed into the cosmonaut corps if granted an exception by the Central Committee of the Communist Party, which did not happen despite many of her friends who were cosmonauts supporting admitting her. All four times she applied to become a cosmonaut she was rejected, even though she had far more piloting and virtually the same amount of parachuting experience as Valentina Tereshkova when applying.