On 16th June 1963 Soviet Cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova became the first and youngest woman in space, aged 26. Valentina, a former textile worker and amateur skydiver, flew a solo mission on the Vostok 6, orbiting the earth 48 times over three days in space. Pictures include her visit to London and Stratford Upon Avon in February of 1964. She has spent the rest of her life encouraging women into space exploration.