Tuesday 11 October 2016

Ladies Who Lab: The Alphabet, A is for…

Astronaut! I love this series as it’s an amazing way to showcase the fascinating females in the world of Science. Usually I ask people I know to guest post and share with my readers why they love Science, what they do and how they got there. When Elanor bought me The Mighty Women of Science Alphabet Book by Clare Forrest I thought it a perfect addition to this monthly series.


As I said A is for astronaut so let me introduce to you Valentina Tereshkova, the first female to fly to space!

Born in Russia in 1937, Valentina was a factory worker and in 1963 applied to become the pilot of the Vostok 6. She beat off hundreds of applicants to become the first lady to fly to space and in total spent 3 days there orbiting the Earth 48 times. This was even more fascinating as this meant she had spent more time in outer space than anyone else before her!


After this amazing mission Tereshkova  gained a PhD and became a Cosmonaut Engineer. She was later awarded the United Nations Gold Medal of Peace and if that wasn’t amazing enough she also has an asteroid named after her. Valentina’s callsign during her mission to space was Chaika-meaning seagull in English. This was the inspiration when naming the asteroid 1671 Chaika.

Other interesting facts about Valentina Tereshkova: 

The London-based electro-pop group Komputer released a song named Valentina in 1997 telling the story of her life

The character Red from Orange is the New Black speaks of Tereshkova naming her as her hero

There was a short film made about her 

In 2007 the video game Mass Effect contained a fiction star system named after Tereshkova

She was also named the 20th century’s greatest female


How amazing does Valentina Tereshkova sound? Would you go to space if you had the chance?

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61 comments

  1. What an amazing book. I wouldn't mind having a flick through that. Girl power indeed! xo

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  2. I should get a book like this for my daughter when she's older!

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    1. She would love it! If I had a daughter it would be her bedtime book ha!

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  3. What a great book, I will look for this for my Daughter x

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    1. I love it! Wish I could slot myself in under S haha

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  4. This was such a good little read - women in science definitely need to be celebrated, as it encourages more women to consider what's traditionally been a male-dominated career space!

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    1. I can't wait to reveal the rest of the alphabet! There are some really fascinating women whose discoveries lead to the some other well known discoveries by male scientists. Girl power!

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  5. This sounds like a fantastic book!

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    1. I love it! It's a quick read but full of inspirational women of science!

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  6. How interesting, I love that she was a factory worker before becoming an astronaut x

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    1. I love that too! Just shows you what can be achieved if you have enough drive

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  7. This looks like a fabulous stereotype-free book for girls!

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    1. It's great! If I had daughters I would be reading it to them just to show what women can do!

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  8. I watch the Big Bang theory all the time, and I know it's not technically educational but I do find science fascinating, and I think I would really enjoy a book like yours, it sounds fascinating xx

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    1. I used to watch The Big Bang Theory and call it revision...even though I never studied physics haha

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  9. Whilst I have heard of her, we dont actually hear enough about Valentina Tereshkova and she has a fascinating history x

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    1. I hadn't heard of her before reading this book but I was quick to read more about her

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  10. This sounds like such a good book. Would be good for my sister x

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    1. It's great! I'm so thankful to have received it as a birthday gift

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  11. Its great because many assume that men dominate science when in fact its women. Valentina sounds like a genius.

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    1. I agree! Except a few really famous female scientists it does seem that there isnt much contribution to science from women. This book definitely challenges that

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  12. She sounds amazing, and I would definitely go to space if I had the opportunity x

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    1. I would love to too! Just to see how Earth looks for myself

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  13. I"m not so sure I'd go if I could. It fascinates me but scares me!

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  14. I literally had no idea who the 1st woman in space was so thanks for sharing! Great series!

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  15. Very cool. I'd like to read this book. I love non fiction and reading about real life people too! Especially inspirational women.

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  16. Glad you liked this gift after The Walking Dead fiasco! ;) Women in science are the coolest and I'm glad you are running this series, to illustrate just how cool we can be! :)

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  17. What an amazing women, not sure I'd head to space if I had the chance though x

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  18. What a fab book great to see more about women in science.

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  19. Wow what an interesting and fascinating read, the book sounds awesome! Science is truly fascinating and it's good to see women becoming more involved. xx

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    1. It's great to see! I'm hoping one day I'll make it into a future copy ha

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  20. I love the sound of this book - so important for young girls to have female role models in science

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  21. Although it frightens the life out of me and hurts my head to think about all of the universe out there, I would definitely go to space if I could! xxx

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  22. This is awesome! Women need to be celebrated more often so this is great!!

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  23. What an amazing sounding women Valentina Tereshkova is! I totally need to try that book out as well. x

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  24. Great to recognise women who smash boundaries like this. Personally I would never be brave enough to go into space.

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  25. What a great book, it's good to highlight the achievements us women have made as they are often overlooked.

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  26. It's great to have a book on women in science! Sounds like a brilliant book

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  27. What a brilliant idea to showcase women who totally rock. Valentina was a total inspiration.

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  28. This sounds like great book to inspire young girls to do whatever they want!

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  29. wow I have never heard of Valentina, but she sounds like one amazing woman! Thank you for introducing me to her xx

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  30. What an interesting story, and all credit to her - I'm not sure I'd do very well in space!

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  31. Love this post - how brilliant to celebrate and raise awareness of these amazing women! Kaz x

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  32. This is such a lovely post and I'd heard of Valentina Tereshkova but her complete story. This book is such an incredible one to have and I will have to pick it up.

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  33. Such an interesting post and I love the sound of this book! :)

    Jess xo | The Indigo Hours

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  34. Fascinating and inspiring, I knew nothing about the first woman in space but now I do:-)

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  35. What an interesting read I had never even heard of her. No chance I'd be going into space

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  36. Valentina Tereshkova sounds like a great role model! What a fascinating read!

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  37. I enjoy reading these stories and learning about talented and smart women :)

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  38. This sounds like a interesting read. I would love to go to space if I had the chance x

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  39. Science always bored me. I think I can often be more interested in creative things, but that's another subject. It's nice to hear of women who are working in male-dominated careers and showing their intelligence

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  40. Looks like an amazing book - I always love reading about women in science. Such a great and empowering contrast to the images of women in fashion/beauty that we're flooded with - day in and day out :) xx Savi

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  41. This looks really good and definitely something I'd be interested in reading!

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  42. I think I'm going to have to invest in that book x

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