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40th anniversary of the space mission of the first woman in space

16 Jun 2003

June 16, 2003 is the 40th anniversary of the space mission of the
first woman in space V.V.Tereshkova on-board Vostok-6 spacecraft.  We
congratulate you, dear Valentina Vladimirovna, on the jubilee of your
historic mission! 

Dear Valentina Vladimirovna,

S.P.Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia staff and management
congratulate you on the fortieth anniversary of the space flight of
the first woman in space.

The three-day mission, which you carried out on-board Vostok-6 June
16 through 19, 1963, when you, flying in low-Earth orbit
simultaneously with V.F.Bykovsky who was piloting Vostok-5, made 48
orbits around Earth, was one of the first important steps made by the
Earthlings on the road towards the actual exploration of space. Steps
that were brave and necessary for the terrestrial civilization, most
of which were made as a result of creative and dedicated work of our
compatriots - developers and testers of new rocket and space
technology, with the leading role played by the staff of the Special
Design Bureau number 1 (now known as RSC Energia), which was founded
and headed by the Chief Designer of the rocket and space systems,
academician S.P.Korolev. Owing to these first steps, the Mankind was
able to start the wide-ranging exploration of the near-Earth space
using manned spacecraft and space stations. Without all this, it
would have been unthinkable today to embark on the most ambitious
project of the 21st century, the International Space Station (ISS)
project, which is being carried out through joint efforts of many
countries in the interests of further advancing our civilization
towards gaining the knowledge of the mysteries of the Universe,
obtaining new data in various fields of science and technology,
developing and using advanced technologies. 

Your knowledge and courage, confidence of all those who prepared and
carried out the Vostok-6 mission in its successful completion became
the guarantees of the new achievement of the domestic space science.
This mission made a significant contribution to the development and
improvement of the manned rocket and space technology by
demonstrating to the entire Mankind that the space missions were
henceforth accessible to women as well. It became one more proof of
the validity of design concepts and engineering solutions developed
by the Special Design Bureau Number One. It became one of the
precious keystones of the experience, which provided the foundation
for the projects of the subsequent manned spacecraft Voskhod, Soyuz,
Buran and space stations Salyut, Mir, ISS. The projects implemented
in the subsequent years by our company, which is the prime company
for manned space program, in close cooperation with dozens of
companies and organizations in the industry, Academy of Sciences, and
Ministry of Defense. 

Dear Valentina Vladimirovna, the example set by your mission became
an enticement for the women to join the space program: today they
travel along the road of space exploration side-by-side with men
towards understanding the mysteries of the Universe.

Your work as the Chairman of the Committee of Soviet Women,
vice-president of the International Democratic Federation of Women
helped to strengthen peace and friendship between the people, to
establish close and multi-lateral ties between the women of the
world. Being the head of the Russian Center for International
Scientific and Cultural Cooperation, you continue to work for the
cause of improving mutual understanding between the people of Earth,
organizing joint efforts of Mankind to solve the problems that it
faces, and, of course, to address the tasks of space exploration. 

Dear Valentina Vladimirovna, we wish you and your relatives health,
the joy of living, happiness and many years of life among your close
relatives and friends.

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