The first woman in space was Valentina Tereshkova, a Soviet cosmonaut who flew on June 16, 1963. Her flight aboard Vostok 6 made her the first woman to travel into space, paving the way for future female astronauts. Tereshkova's contributions to science include her role in space exploration and her subsequent advocacy for women in science and technology. After her flight, she became a prominent figure in the Soviet space program and a symbol of female achievement in a predominantly male field.