Zhanna Yorkina
Encyclopedia
Zhanna Dmitriyevna Yorkina (born May 6, 1939) is a former Soviet Cosmonaut.
In December 1961, the selection of female cosmonaut trainees was authorized by the Soviet government, with the specific intention of ensuring the first woman in space was a Soviet citizen. In February 1962, Yorkina was selected as a member of a group of five female cosmonauts to be trained for a solo spaceflight in a Vostok
spacecraft. Like several others in the group, she was an amateur parachutist. In 1963, she married Valeri N. Sergeychik, which whom she had two children, Valeri V. and Svetlana V, in violation of Korolyov
's rule that female cosmonauts must put off having children and dedicate themselves to the space program.
The honor of being the first woman in space was eventually given to Valentina Tereshkova
, who was launched into Earth orbit in June 1963 aboard Vostok 6
. Tereshkova's backup was Irina Solovyova
, with Valentina Ponomaryova
in a supporting 'second backup' role. Yorkina had been taken out of the running for the mission as she had performed poorly in the simulator.
Yorkina was considered one of the least capable of the five female cosmonauts, and Kamanin
specifically complained that she was "too fond of chocolate and cakes". She was included in plans for Voskhod 5, an all-female duration and EVA mission, but only as the secondary member of the backup crew.
Following cancellation of the Voskhod Program
, Yorkina worked at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center. During development of the Spiral spaceplane, she was one of the cosmonauts who were involved in the program. She retired from the space program on October 1, 1969, and from active military duty in 1989.
In December 1961, the selection of female cosmonaut trainees was authorized by the Soviet government, with the specific intention of ensuring the first woman in space was a Soviet citizen. In February 1962, Yorkina was selected as a member of a group of five female cosmonauts to be trained for a solo spaceflight in a Vostok
Vostok programme
The Vostok programme was a Soviet human spaceflight project that succeeded in putting a person into Earth's orbit for the first time. The programme developed the Vostok spacecraft from the Zenit spy satellite project and adapted the Vostok rocket from an existing ICBM design...
spacecraft. Like several others in the group, she was an amateur parachutist. In 1963, she married Valeri N. Sergeychik, which whom she had two children, Valeri V. and Svetlana V, in violation of Korolyov
Sergey Korolyov
Sergei Pavlovich Korolev ; died 14 January 1966 in Moscow, Russia) was the lead Soviet rocket engineer and spacecraft designer in the Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union during the 1950s and 1960s...
's rule that female cosmonauts must put off having children and dedicate themselves to the space program.
The honor of being the first woman in space was eventually given to Valentina Tereshkova
Valentina Tereshkova
Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova is a retired Soviet cosmonaut, and was the first woman in space. She was selected out of more than four hundred applicants, and then out of five finalists, to pilot Vostok 6 on the 16 June, 1963, becoming both the first woman and the first civilian to fly in...
, who was launched into Earth orbit in June 1963 aboard Vostok 6
Vostok 6
-Backup crew:-Reserve crew:Vostok VI-Mission parameters:*Mass: *Apogee: *Perigee: *Inclination: 64.9°*Period: 87.8 minutes9090...
. Tereshkova's backup was Irina Solovyova
Irina Solovyova
Irina Bayanovna Solovyova was one of the five women chosen in the female group, now a retired Soviet cosmonaut. She never flew into space, but was chosen as the backup to Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space via Vostok 6 in June, 1963...
, with Valentina Ponomaryova
Valentina Ponomaryova
Valentina Leonidovna Ponomaryova is a former Soviet Cosmonaut.In December 1961, the selection of female cosmonauts was authorised by the Soviet Government, with the specific intention of ensuring the first woman in space was a Soviet citizen. In February 1962 Ponomaryova was selected in a group of...
in a supporting 'second backup' role. Yorkina had been taken out of the running for the mission as she had performed poorly in the simulator.
Yorkina was considered one of the least capable of the five female cosmonauts, and Kamanin
Nikolai Kamanin
Nikolai Petrovich Kamanin was a Soviet aviator, awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union in 1934 for the rescue of SS Chelyuskin crew from an improvised airfield on the frozen surface of the Chukchi Sea near Kolyuchin Island.In World War II he successfully commanded air brigade, air division...
specifically complained that she was "too fond of chocolate and cakes". She was included in plans for Voskhod 5, an all-female duration and EVA mission, but only as the secondary member of the backup crew.
Following cancellation of the Voskhod Program
Voskhod programme
The Voskhod programme was the second Soviet human spaceflight project. Two manned missions were flown using the Voskhod spacecraft and rocket, one in 1964 and one in 1965....
, Yorkina worked at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center. During development of the Spiral spaceplane, she was one of the cosmonauts who were involved in the program. She retired from the space program on October 1, 1969, and from active military duty in 1989.