The personal life of "The Seagull": What the first woman-cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova prefers to keep silent about

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

She became a legend at the age of 26, having made the first flight of a woman into space. After that, the whole life of Valentina Tereshkova was in sight: endless trips, performances, interviews. It seems that behind such close attention there was simply nowhere to hide any secrets. But Valentina Tereshkova always knew how to keep secrets and even today, when a famous woman is already over 80 years old, she is far from always ready to share personal experiences.

Valentina Tereshkova and Andriyan Nikolaev

A few months after the flight of Valentina Tereshkova, the whole country learned that the Seagull was marrying the famous cosmonaut No. 3 Andriyan Nikolaev, who was responsible for both a four-day flight and the first soaring in zero gravity of a spacecraft.

The private life of the favorite of millions of Soviet people, hidden from prying eyes, and her sudden marriage gave rise to many rumors. The most common version was Nikita Khrushchev's personal instruction to marry two cosmonauts. However, friends and relatives of both cosmonauts claim that there was no instruction from the Secretary General. On the contrary, according to eyewitnesses, when Yuri Gagarin, looking at Nikolaev and Tereshkova, jokingly offered to marry them, Khrushchev replied very seriously that this was a very personal matter.

Alexei Leonov, pilot-cosmonaut, recalled that the relationship between Valentina Tereshkova and Andriyan Nikolaev began before his eyes. The cosmonaut corps rested in the Chemitokvadzhe sanatorium in Sochi, and there Valentina and her chosen one practically did not part. Together we went to the sea, walked in a picturesque park, and were nearby in the dining room.

The famous space wedding was already played in November. True, it did not work to celebrate it the way the newlyweds wanted. The event was taken under his personal control by Nikita Khrushchev, who ordered to organize a holiday at the Government House. In the same place, Nikita Sergeevich made a toast in which he advised the young to hurry up with the birth of children.

As soon as the distinguished guest left the banquet, the bride and groom immediately went to Star City, where friends were waiting for them, who did not have enough space at the high reception.

In June 1964, their daughter Elena was born. Pregnancy Valentina Vladimirovna endured hard, added anxiety to the expectant mother and uncertainty. No one knew what impact they and her husband could have on the child's health. Moreover, all the astronauts knew that puppies from dogs that had been in space were born either dead or with serious pathologies.

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Fortunately, Elena was absolutely healthy, and her parents were happy, but their happiness did not last long, and soon problems began in the family. However, they could not even divorce without the highest permission of the Secretary General. The cosmonauts divorced only after their daughter came of age.

From that very moment, Valentina Vladimirovna and Andriyan Grigorievich did not comment on either their family life or their divorce. They both decided to keep personal. Valentina Tereshkova soon married a second time, but Andriyan Nikolaev never married.

Already in adulthood, when answering the question why he was left alone, cosmonaut No. 3 said that it was difficult to meet a woman friend. And there were too many mercantile persons on his way. They longed for a position in society and a wealthy life, but Andriyan Grigorievich expected something completely different from his future wife. True, Alexei Leonov admitted that after the divorce, Nikolaev said: after Valentina, he does not need anyone.

Valentina Tereshkova and Yuliy Shaposhnikov

The second time Valentina Tereshkova got married without pathos and public attention. Her husband, Yuli Shaposhnikov, was a fairly well-known person in medical circles, major general of the medical service. For a long time Yuliy Georgievich headed the Central Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics.

There was enough public attention to the life of the first woman-cosmonaut, but she resolutely protected her family from publicity. For many years, she did not give any comments about the relationship with Yuliy Georgievich. But everyone who knew this family agreed: the spouses lived in perfect harmony.

Julius Shaposhnikov had a huge influence on the daughter of Valentina Tereshkova Elena. Friends believe that it was his positive example that made the girl choose medicine as her profession. Unfortunately, the second husband of Valentina Tereshkova died in 1999 from cancer.

Valentina Tereshkova today remains true to her principle not to spread about that does not concern her profession and social activities. She is still very active today, at 81 years old. The cosmonaut pilot, the only woman in the world who alone flew around the Earth 48 times, is a deputy of the State Duma and sees her mission in helping people.

The dream of being in space did not leave mankind for centuries, and on April 12, 1961 it was destined to come true - Yuri Gagarin made the first flight. The flight of Valentina Tereshkova was also a significant event in world history.