GUTS AND GLORY -- THE SEAGULL

First woman in space ready for 'one-way flight to Mars'

By blade  From france 24
Created 07/06/2013 - 15:27


Russia's Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman to go to space, said on Friday she was ready to score another coup and fly to Mars, even if it would be just a one-way trip.

"Mars is my favourite planet," the 76-year old told a news conference in Zvyozdny Gorodok (Star City) outside Moscow, home to a cosmonaut training centre.

Tereshkova, who became a national heroine at the tender age of 26 when she made a solo space flight in 1963, said she had been part of the group who studied the possibility of going to the Red Planet.

"But we know the human limits. And for us this remains a dream. Most likely the first flight will be one way. 

But I am ready," she said.

Under the call sign Chaika (Seagull), Tereshkova during her three-day mission circled the Earth 48 times, her flight becoming a major propaganda coup for the Soviet Union.


On June 16, Russia will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Tereshkova's historic flight.


In 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first man to go to space.

Louis and Bebe Barron -- Forbidden Planet Music (Link)


Note:  As the title says, you can’t fault Valentina Tereshkova for lack of guts and, through her actions and (mostly) inspiring biography, she’s already earned eternal glory.  Researching photos of her life, there’s a touching one of the Major-General (her Russian Air Force rank) pinning a medal on U.S. astronaut Neil Armstrong after his 1969 moon landing.  I’d prefer to (and will) forget the Soviet p.r. stooge shots of her with the lamentable Angela Davis.  She’s quite a woman and it’s my surmise that she is as eager as I am to uncover the truth about the Martian lizard pictured above, who graced the world press last week.  The fact that this didn’t make a bigger splash tells you everything to know about the future of the news/journalism business.  Do you think it’s true, by the way, that someone, somewhere, is detecting and monitoring my each and every keystroke?  If so, the lizard and I say “good morning to you -- breakfast will be served shortly  -- watch out for the ailing dog who tends to get underfoot.”