Lt. Valentina Tereshkova June 16, 1963 BBC on this day: 16 June 1963 1st woman cosmonaut June 16, 1963 BBC on this day: 16 June 1963 Russians June 16, 1963 Valentina Tereshkova first Soviet woman in space Soviets launch first woman into space first woman in space "1963: Soviets launch first woman into space" June 16, 1963