The secret of the first Russian astronaut

Valentina Tereshkova is female Major General Air Force - Hero of the Space Pilot, Associate Doctor of Science - Engineering, Soviet Supreme Soviet Representative, Vice President of the World Federation of Democratic Women. She is the most famous woman in the Soviet Union, the twentieth century.

The beautiful astronaut nicknamed ' Traika ' (Hai Au) told of a particularly serious incident (fortunately it has been overcome, otherwise she would have stayed permanently on the immense space) in flight to space when old and the secrets of my life after more than 40 years kept in silence.

Disappointing rumors about the ' Cosmic Beauty '

After years of popularity in the mass media, Valentina Tereshkova suddenly stopped contacting the press at the end of the 80s of the twentieth century. She did not answer any interview and did not give a reason.

At that time, there were many rumors in the former Soviet Union that the prestige and reputation of the first female astronaut was reduced: Now, Valentina Tereshkova was frightened when she could not open the ship. universe to jump though back to earth; Tereshkova agreed to marry the Third Astronaut Andrian Nikolaev under the direction of First Secretary Khrusev; What is the only daughter Alena of this astronaut couple who has a congenital disease and they have found ways to hide public opinion . So what is the truth?

From the textile workers become cosmic pilots

Valentina Tereshkova was born and raised in a small Russian village called Maslennikovo, in the region of Iaroslavsk. Her father died in the war. Her mother alone raised 3 small children. Because of her family's hardship, at the age of 17, Valia (Valentina Tereshkova's intimate name) had to work as a weaver to help her mother and support her.

Although life is hard, this young, healthy and beautiful girl still does not give up her special passion, the sky. On breaks and holidays, Valia will never be absent from rehearsals at the local Aviation Club. She is a promising skydiver. At the age of 25, Valia was recruited directly to the Space Pilot Training School.

After the resounding success of the first space pilot Yuri Gagarin, the first Secretary of the Soviet Communist Party Central Committee, Nikita Khrusev instructed: The Soviet Union must also be the first country in the world to have a female pilot. fly into space. Scouts take turns across all parts of the country to find bright female candidates.

In the first round, the Space Astronaut Training Center recruited the best 5 people: the experienced Ponomarieva female pilot participated and won many awards in flying competitions on all-round sports aircraft. state. The female engineer Solovieva is a sports grandmaster who has more than 700 parachutes .

Among those female students, only Valentina Tereshkova at that time did not have a university degree and her performance in training was no more than other female pilots. However, in the end, Valentina was chosen as the 1st Space Astronaut. Reason: Just like Iuri Gagarin, the first female astronaut in the world will have to travel a lot, propagate and propagate well. on the superiority of the Soviet Socialist regime.

Valentina has been a long-time, experienced Union officer. You have all those possibilities. In addition, the General Engineer and Commander of the space flights - Academician Korolev made a clear plan: In the next flight, there will be a female astronaut leaving the ship for the first time, entering the space. Space. According to him, the task was so heavy and difficult that only experienced female pilots like Ponomarieva and Solovieva could accomplish.

Valentina Tereshkova - Cosmic Astronaut - Valentina Tereshkova
(Photo: Apollospace.com)

Secret for over 40 years .

On June 15, 1963, the " Oriental-6 " spacecraft, carrying the world's first cosmic pilot, Valentina Tereshkova, took off at Baikonuar Space Airport . According to the official announcements of the Soviet mass media at the time, after 3 days of flying around successfully around the earth, the ship landed, returned safely to the ground. No one (except for a few insiders) learned that there was a very serious incident during the landing (and fortunately it was overcome. Otherwise, the Women's Astronaut number 1 has forever stayed on the immense space). More than 40 years later, ie March 2007, authorized by superiors, Tereshkova told the whole truth:

Automatic control program of pre-programmed ship, on the ground. However, for some reason, there was a very serious problem in this program: It should have been that, after finishing the final flight, the " Orient 6" spacecraft had to fly closer to the earth. . But, the reality is the opposite: After each round of flying, the ship is farther away from the earth! Immediately, Tereshkova reported this special incident to General Engineer Korolev.

At the Command Center, the crew was sweating from worry. All treatment measures are urgently applied to save the ship . Finally, after tireless and continuous efforts, to the second day since the incident occurred, the control commands only work. . The flight trajectory of the ship is adjusted as required. After the incident, General Engineer Korolev asked Tereshkova to keep it a secret and she had strictly implemented it for over 40 years. Now, there is an order for you to say .

Not yet. During the 3-day flight on the ' Orient-6 ' there were several other problems. At that time, the space suits and armor of the pilot pilots were very heavy but to ensure absolute safety, even though they were in a closed cabin, the pilots were not allowed to take them off. The second day while flying, her right leg suddenly felt sharp. On the third day, the feeling of heaviness and pain when wearing pants and armor increased. The big and heavy hat tightened on his shoulders. The head is itchy . While practicing on the ground, when hungry, she eats delicious food for the space pilot. However, in a state of weightlessness in the universe, eating is not so easy. She vomited once not because of the vestibular disorder but because of the food.

Another incident occurs when parachuting back to earth. She said: 'At the time when I left the ship from a height of 4,000 meters, I was really worried because right below the ground was a . very big lake. Although trained to swim very well in case of forced landing on the sea but in a state of physical fatigue and at such a height with heavy pants, armor, pilots can not control although it is very easy and difficult to manage when it comes to water ".

Fortunately, the wind on the ground at that time was very strong, blowing the parachute flying over the lake. After a few strong strikes, Tereshkova was dragged a short distance and fell on the ground. The parachute was successful. Although there was a bruise on the nose of the nose, it was all right. The lifeguards and health workers have been running in time to help her .

Is Tereshkova married as ordered by Khrusev?

Astronaut Family Family Valentina Tereshkova and her daughter Alena in happiness (Photo: VNN)

Tereshkova said: In fact, Andrian Nikolaev - Astronaut No. 3, was used to and " flirt " with the female pilot Tereshkova long before she flew to space. 5 months after the return flight, the two people married in ' Star City '. They are married voluntarily, not by anyone's instructions. Do these beautiful couple astronaut couples really love and stick together? No one knows that except the insiders.

Soviet Air Force Major General Nikolai Kamanin (who is a relative of both) wrote in his diary about the universal love that is as follows: 'For the political and scientific - technical circles, their wedding is good news. But, personally, I don't quite believe that Tereshkova really loves Nikolaev. Because simply, their personality is completely opposite. She was as hot as fire, and he was as healthy as water. Both are strong-willed people. No one wants to depend on anyone . '.

That comment proved correct. After 19 years of marriage, Andrian and Valentina broke up. They have a common daughter named Alena. She is healthy, normal, black hair and resembles Nikolaev's dad like a cast (unlike rumors that a sick, twisted baby).

After the wedding day, Tereshkova was often away from home and went on a business trip: When she was abroad, when she went to the cities in the country to propagate and talk about the life and career of the country of the Soviet people. . And her husband, Nikolaev, actively practices to prepare for new flights into space.

By mid-1979, the two men no longer appeared together but had not officially divorced. There was too much attachment between them and reputation was not easy to leave for a moment. At that time, if Nikolaev left his wife without a good reason, it would be immediately expelled from the astronauts' team (two other cosmonauts were disciplined and named for such reasons). . Tereshkova is also the President of the Soviet Union Women's Union .

However, life is always the life and the condition of ' grandpa and uncle ' of this famous couple cannot last long. My daughter Alena said: 'Father and mother broke up when I was 18 years old. I am extremely miserable because I love both parents. But . nothing could be done! I was old enough, wise to understand that. ' It is true that it is difficult to heal because Tereshkova fell in love with others!

In 1978, Tereshkova met Yuri Sapoznikov when she came to medical assessment to prepare for a new flight into space. At that time, Professor - Doctor Yuri Sapoznikov was a Lecturer at the Military Medical Academy and a member of the medical evaluation board of astronauts. They have lived together for 20 years. Later, Sapoznikov was conferred the title of Major General of Military Medical and Director of the Trauma Institute - Orthopedics.

Dream of flying up . Mars!

Valentina Tereshkova loves charity and social activities but does not receive any grant from these jobs. She only receives salary at the Space Pilot Training Center.

On the roof of Tereshkova's house, next to the entrance to the Star City, the Republic of Russia, there is a pinwheel of Traika (Seagull bird). It was her codename (name) when flying on the ' Phuong Dong-6 ' Space Shuttle. This symbol is the never-ending mark of the life of the world's first female astronaut - Valentina Tereshkova.

Her love of the sky is still burning. In 2007, Tereshkova, despite being in her 70s, still dreams of someday flying up . Mars!

Nam Thanh