Latest news with #ValentinaTereshkova
Boston Globe
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Today in History: June 16, Valentina Tereshkova becomes first woman in space
Advertisement In 1903, the Ford Motor Company was incorporated in Detroit, Mich. In 1963, the world's first female space traveler, Valentina Tereshkova, 26, was launched into orbit by the Soviet Union aboard Vostok 6. Tereshkova spent 71 hours in flight, circling the Earth 48 times before returning safely. In 1976, thousands of Black students in Johannesburg's Soweto township demonstrated against the imposition of the Dutch-based Afrikaans language in schools; police opened fire on the students, killing at least 176 and as many as 700. In 1978, President Jimmy Carter and Panamanian leader Omar Torrijos signed the instruments of ratification for the Panama Canal treaties during a ceremony in Panama City. In 2015, real estate mogul President Trump launched his successful campaign for the presidency of the United States with a speech at Trump Tower in Manhattan, N.Y. Advertisement In 2016, Walt Disney Co. opened Shanghai Disneyland, its first theme park in mainland China. In 2022, witnesses testified to the Jan. 6 committee that President Trump's closest advisers viewed his last-ditch efforts to pressure Vice President Mike Pence to reject the tally of state electors and overturn the 2020 election as 'nuts,' 'crazy,' and even likely to incite riots.
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First Post
16-06-2025
- Health
- First Post
History Today: How Bhutan became the first country to go tobacco-free
Bhutan, the world's happiest nation, was also the first one to impose a complete ban on tobacco and its products on June 16, 2010. On this day in 1963, the Soviet Union's Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman to go to space read more Bhutan became the first nation to impose a complete ban on tobacco. File image Tobacco is banned in many places today. But this was not the case 20 years ago when smoking tobacco products was common in public spaces in nearly all countries. This changed on June 16, 2010, when Bhutan decided to ban tobacco, becoming the first nation to do so. It also prohibited the cultivation, manufacture and supply of tobacco. If you are a history geek who loves to learn about important events from the past, Firstpost Explainers' ongoing series, History Today will be your one-stop destination to explore key events. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Soviet Union's Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman to travel to space on this day in 1963. June 16 also witnessed the opening of the world's first purpose-built roller coaster for amusement in Brooklyn, New York. Here is all that took place on this day around the globe. Bhutan became the first country to ban tobacco Bhutan made global headlines on June 16, 2010, by becoming the first country in the world to impose a complete ban on tobacco and its products. The nation brought the comprehensive Tobacco Control Act that effectively banned the sale, production and distribution of tobacco products. The landmark legislation also prohibited smoking in public places. The ban aligned with Bhutan's unique philosophy of 'Gross National Happiness', which prioritised spiritual and environmental well-being over purely economic growth. While personal use of tobacco was not entirely illegal, individuals were required to present official receipts and pay hefty taxes on tobacco products brought into the country for personal consumption. Violators faced severe penalties, including hefty fines and imprisonment. Bhutan's rationale behind the ban was public health and spirituality. As a Buddhist nation, smoking was seen as a violation of religious principles. Furthermore, the government aimed to curb rising health risks linked to tobacco use, such as cancer and heart disease , especially among the youth. Despite the ban, Bhutan's strict anti-tobacco stance faced several practical challenges. A black market for tobacco emerged, leading to increased smuggling and enforcement issues. The restrictions were also criticised for disproportionately affecting low-income individuals and creating loopholes for corruption. Valentina Tereshkova becomes the first woman in space On this day in 1963, Valentina Tereshkova was launched into space by the Soviet Union, becoming the first woman to ever travel beyond Earth's atmosphere. On board the Soviet spacecraft Vostok 6, Tereshkova orbited the Earth 48 times for nearly three days. With her spaceflight, she broke gender barriers in a field that had been dominated by men until this time . Valentina Tereshkova is pictured as seen in a television transmission from her space craft, Vostok 6 on June 16, 1963. File image/AP Tereshkova was a former textile factory worker and amateur parachutist who caught the attention of Soviet space authorities during a recruitment drive for female cosmonauts. She was chosen from more than 400 applicants due to her skydiving experience and strong political background, being an active member of the Communist Party. At just 26 years old, she was launched into orbit from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Codenamed 'Chaika' (Seagull), Tereshkova maintained a flight log, conducted scientific observations on the effects of weightlessness on the female body and even took photographs of the Earth's horizon that were later used for atmospheric research. Tereshkova's remarkable achievement was a significant propaganda victory for the Soviet Union, highlighting its technological prowess and commitment to equality. Upon her safe return on June 19, 1963, Tereshkova became a national hero and was also celebrated globally for her ground-breaking feat. The first roller coaster opens in US It was on this day that the United States saw the opening of its first roller coaster designed purely for amusement at the Switchback Railway at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York. It was the brainchild of inventor LaMarcus Adna Thompson, often referred to as the 'Father of the American Roller Coaster.' The Switchback Railway was nothing like the roller coaster rides that we have today. It consisted of two parallel tracks, each about 600 feet long. Riders would ascend a 50-foot tower, board cars with sideways-facing benches, and then rely on gravity to coast down one track at leisurely six miles per hour. At the end, the cars had to be manually switched to the parallel track and pulled back up another 50-foot incline for the return journey. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Inspired by mining railways and gravity railroads used for transporting coal in Pennsylvania, Thompson's creation was as much an engineering marvel as it was a novel form of entertainment. The ride became instantly popular, drawing thousands of curious New Yorkers eager to experience the sensation of mechanical motion for pleasure rather than utility. The success of the Switchback Railway sparked a boom in roller coaster construction across the United States and Europe. Over the next decades, engineers and inventors would develop more sophisticated and faster rides, turning roller coasters into a central attraction of amusement parks worldwide. This Day, That Year Liu Yang became the first Chinese woman in space in 2012. On this day in 1911, International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) was incorporated. The Ford Motor Company was founded by Henry Ford in 1903.
San Francisco Chronicle
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Today in History: June 16, Valentina Tereshkova becomes first woman in space
Today is Monday, June 16, the 167th day of 2025. There are 198 days left in the year. Today in history: On June 16, 1963, the world's first female space traveler, Valentina Tereshkova, 26, was launched into orbit by the Soviet Union aboard Vostok 6. Tereshkova spent 71 hours in flight, circling the Earth 48 times before returning safely. Also on this date: In 1858, accepting the Illinois Republican Party's nomination for the U.S. Senate, Abraham Lincoln said the issue of slavery in the United States had to be resolved, declaring, 'a house divided against itself cannot stand.' In 1903, the Ford Motor Company was incorporated in Detroit, Michigan. In 1976, thousands of Black students in Johannesburg's Soweto township demonstrated against the imposition of the Dutch-based Afrikaans language in schools; police opened fire on the students, killing at least 176 and as many as 700. In 1978, President Jimmy Carter and Panamanian leader Omar Torrijos signed the instruments of ratification for the Panama Canal treaties during a ceremony in Panama City. In 2015, real estate mogul Donald Trump launched his successful campaign for the presidency of the United States with a speech at Trump Tower in Manhattan. In 2016, Walt Disney Co. opened Shanghai Disneyland, its first theme park in mainland China. In 2022, witnesses testified to the Jan. 6 committee that Donald Trump's closest advisers viewed his last-ditch efforts to pressure Vice President Mike Pence to reject the tally of state electors and overturn the 2020 election as 'nuts,' 'crazy' and even likely to incite riots. Today's Birthdays: Author Joyce Carol Oates is 87. Country singer Billy 'Crash' Craddock is 86. R&B singer Eddie Levert is 83. Boxing Hall of Famer Roberto Durán is 74. Pop singer Gino Vannelli is 73. Actor Laurie Metcalf is 70. Rapper MC Ren is 56. Golfer Phil Mickelson is 55. Actor John Cho is 53. Actor Daniel Brühl is 47. Actor Missy Peregrym is 43. Singer Diana DeGarmo (TV: 'American Idol') is 38. NFL wide receiver Justin Jefferson is 26. Tennis player Bianca Andreescu is 25.
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Business Standard
06-06-2025
- Science
- Business Standard
Menstruation in space: How women astronauts manage periods in orbit
In 1983, when Sally Ride was preparing to become the first American woman in space, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) engineers posed an odd question: Would 100 tampons be enough for her seven-day mission? Her reply: 'That would be more than sufficient.' This awkward exchange has since become a symbol of how unprepared space programmes were for the reality of women's health in orbit. For decades, the male-dominated world of space exploration largely ignored the biological needs of half the population. But now, with more women heading to the stars, the question of how astronauts manage their periods in space has gone from taboo to tech. The early challenges of menstruation in space missions For years, space travel was considered a male domain. When the first astronauts went to space in the 1960s, the systems and suits were built exclusively with them in mind. The mere idea of a woman menstruating in space wasn't even on the checklist. In 1963, Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman in space. While a milestone, there's little public documentation on how—or if—her menstrual cycle was addressed. In 1964, a paper published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology described women as 'temperamental psychophysiologic humans' unsuited for piloting spacecraft. The authors cited studies claiming menstruating women were more accident-prone and even suggested they might be responsible for unexplained air crashes. Some scientists speculated that menstrual blood could flow backward in zero gravity—a myth later debunked by Nasa medical experts. By the time Sally Ride made her historic flight in 1983, Nasa had to face reality: if women were going to space, they'd have periods there too. Unfortunately, the male engineers' understanding of menstruation was limited, to say the least. What happens to menstruation and periods in zero gravity? When it comes to periods in space, one might imagine a ghastly nebula of levitating blood. Scientists had similar worries. But gravity doesn't control your period. It turns out that while spaceflight affects many bodily systems, the female menstrual cycle remains largely unchanged. 'It can happen normally in space, and if women choose to do that, they can,' says Dr Varsha Jain, gynaecologist and researcher at King's College London. Astronaut Rhea Seddon, in a 2010 interview, recalled that female astronauts urged Nasa to treat menstruation as a 'non-problem until [it becomes] a problem.' Since no one knew what to expect, they suggested just sending women up—and bringing them back if anything went wrong. 'I'm not sure who had the first period in space,' Seddon said, 'but they came back and said, 'Period in space, just like period on the ground. Don't worry about it.'' The challenge isn't the menstruation itself—it's managing hygiene and waste in a cramped, pressurised cabin with limited water and privacy. Some waste-disposal facilities on the International Space Station can now handle human blood, but they weren't originally designed to do so. Another challenge is calculating the added weight, storage, and waste management for items like tampons and sanitary products. Why most astronauts suppress periods with hormonal birth control Today, most female astronauts choose to suppress their periods entirely during missions. This is done safely through continuous hormonal birth control—either with pills or long-acting methods such as IUDs or injections. Nasa medical teams now work with astronauts ahead of missions to determine the best approach based on individual needs. Some prefer to keep menstruating naturally, and that option is supported too. Nasa physician and astronaut Serena Auñón-Chancellor has spoken openly about these choices. 'It's a choice,' she said. 'Some women choose to menstruate, some don't. Either way, we train for it.' Still, long missions—such as a three-year journey to Mars—present new challenges. According to Dr Jain, astronauts on such missions would need about 1,100 pills, adding cost, packaging, weight and waste. That makes long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs), such as implants or hormonal IUDs, a more convenient solution. Inclusive space design: Meeting female astronaut health needs Menstruation is just one part of the larger push to make space travel inclusive. From designing space suits to fit more body types to conducting biomedical research on hormonal differences, space agencies are beginning to acknowledge the diversity of human needs. More than 100 women have flown to space since Valentina Tereshkova, but the systems still lag behind. Future missions to the Moon, Mars and beyond will require safe, comfortable and sustainable menstrual care in microgravity. Nasa, the European Space Agency and private companies are now developing improved hygiene systems, reusable products and real-time body monitoring tools. And it's clear: the more women involved in designing space missions, the more thoughtfully inclusive those systems become. Why menstruation in space is a symbol of design equity Managing menstruation in space may seem minor compared to interstellar navigation or building Moon bases. But it highlights a larger truth: The systems we build reflect the people we expect to use them. For too long, spaceflight ignored women's biology. Today, mission checklists include tampons, hormonal therapy and custom-fit suits—paving the way for a future where anyone can go to space as their full, human self. And no, Nasa no longer packs 100 tampons for a seven-day trip. We've come a long way—and still have a long way to go.
New Indian Express
13-05-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
50 years of Kerala-Russia bonding
Some years ago, a chapter in a school textbook was about young Ivana who strayed from home into a nearby village. When asked who her mother was, she said her mother is the most beautiful woman in the world. A search began, but the one who came calling for the kid was far from her description. Beauty thus is deeply linked to love, the story conveyed. The story and many like it came to readers in Kerala from what was once the Soviet Union, transporting them to idyllic Russian settings. They were loved, in a pure reflection of the fascination the average, book-lover Malayali had for that country. This could be a reason why the Russian House, originally set up as Gorky Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram 50 years ago, found a spot in the hearts of Malayalis. It became a landmark, where thinkers and writers congregated. Through it, Russia struck deep chords in the minds of Malayalis, its friendship warmed hearts, and its space voyages made the likes of Valentina Tereshkova and Yuri Gagarin household names. Ambika B was one such who did her post graduation in Russian in 1973, inspired by her love for Russia. 'I was very fascinated. I got to know of Russia through the several books published by the Mir Publications. It was heavily subsidised too then. Kerala looked up then to Russia as the home of an ideology it revered,' the 75-year-old says. Years passed, and in the 1990s, Soviet Union disintegrated and Russia emerged. Gorky Bhavan, named after Maxim Gorky, was shut down. It opened later after 10 years, as the Russian Cultural Centre. Popularly called the Russian House, it offered activities that facilitated an exchange of culture and talents.
