Amazing as it may sound with all the deprivations suffered from World War Two when the Soviet Union lost 26 million of its citizens the Evil Empire as Ronald Reagan termed it was ahead in the Space Race with the first artificial Earth satellite Sputnik 1 launched on October 4 1957,the first man in space Yuri Gagarin on 12 April 1961 and the subject of this thread Valentina Tereshkova,the first woman in space 50 years ago this week on 16 June 1963. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentina_Tereshkova

The Russians certainly took the early lead in the so-called "space race" with Sputnik, Mr. Gagarin, and Ms. Tereshkova. The Americans had to put two Men on the moon and return them safely to earth just to catch up!

The Russians certainly took the early lead in the so-called "space race" with Sputnik, Mr. Gagarin, and Ms. Tereshkova. The Americans had to put two Men on the moon and return them safely to earth just to catch up!
Yes,not forgetting the first space walk conducted by Alexey Leonov(apologies to the purists as I use the Roman not the Cyrillic)on 18 March 1965. Of course the Soviets used it all for propaganda purposes which did tarnish the achievements slightly,though not to dampen the scientific endeavour which made it all possible.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexey_Leonov