Today marks 60 years since the first woman launched into space. On June 16, 1963, the 26-year-old Russian cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova set off on the Soviet Union's Vostok 6 expedition. Some 20 years later, the U.S. followed suit with Sally Ride launching off on June 18.
Russia has been commemorating Yuri Gagarin's achievements to mark the 60th anniversary of his historic space flight. On April 12, 1961, Gagarin launched in the Vostok 1 spacecraft from Baikonur Cosmodrome and orbited around the Earth for 108 minutes before safely landing in Southeastern Russia. The flight was a triumph for the Soviet Union, illustrated its technological prowess and kicked off the space age.
