Another Russian female cosmonaut might go into space within three years, according to the Head of the Russian Space Agency Anatoly Perminov.
Anatoly Perminov: It’s a great occasion today – 45 years since the first flight of the first female cosmonaut Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova. The first cosmonauts unit, heads of space enterprises and cosmonaut training centres – we all are here to congratulate her with that high-day, and also to congratulate each other with the fact that the first female cosmonaut is from our country. I would like to wish her good health, not to decrease the rhythm of her life and never lose ties with Russia’s space field. And she does all that. She always helps during launches and arrivals at Baikonur, she receives cosmonauts and sees them off. And we feel her support. She always keeps saying “No worries, everything’s gonna be ok!” In return we wish her all the best and promise we’ll always support her. Another Russian female-cosmonaut, Valentina Serova, has joined Russia’s space units. Will we see another Russian woman’s space flight? A.P.: Realistically, the flight will take place by 2011. However, if it is necessary this could happen earlier.