Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova, the first woman-cosmonaut, is known all over the world for her professional activities. But her personal life is closed to the public. Admirers of Tereshkova can only be content with speculation articles in the press and look for photos of Valentin Vladimirovna's children on the Internet.
Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova is a retired major general (since 1997), the first and only woman in the world who was in space without a team and even without a partner. She inscribed her name in the history of world astronautics for centuries. Everyone is familiar with her exploits and achievements, but what is known about her personal life? Who is her husband? Where can I find photos of Valentina Tereshkova's children?
The personal life of the first woman astronaut
Valentina Tereshkova was married twice. The first husband of this heroic woman was her colleague, cosmonaut Nikolaev Andriyan - the third and most important member of the USSR space brigade, a participant in a military experiment, the one who was the first to work in orbit without a spacesuit.
The wedding of Andriyan Nikolaev and Valentina Tereshkova took place in early November 1963. Solemn events timed to coincide with the wedding were held in the government apartments on the Lenin Hills. The General Secretary himself, Nikita Sergeevich Khrushchev, was present at the wedding of cosmonauts Tereshkova and Nikolaev.
The marriage lasted 19 years. The couple had a daughter, Elena, and until she reached the age of majority, Valentina Vladimirovna steadfastly endured all the antics of her despot husband. Only a few years after the divorce, Tereshkova decided to talk about what kind of husband the famous cosmonaut, Hero of the USSR Nikolayev Andriyan was.
The second husband of Valentina Vladimirovna was Yuli Shaposhnikov, Major General of the Medical Service, head of the Central Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology. There was no wedding as such. Moreover, the couple tried in every possible way to protect their personal space from the press and the public. In 1999, Yulia Shaposhnikova passed away.
Daughter of Valentina Tereshkova Elena - photo
The first woman-astronaut tolerated pregnancy very hard. Psychological tension also played a role - medical specialists of that time did not know how flights could affect the condition of both the mother and the unborn child. Fortunately, Tereshkova's professional activities did not affect pregnancy in any way - Elena Andriyanovna Nikolaeva-Tereshkova was born in early June 1964 as an absolutely healthy, strong girl.
Elena graduated from school with excellent marks, she chose medicine as a specialized education. After graduating from the university, the girl came to work at CITO, which was headed at that time by her stepfather Yuli Shaposhnikov.
After the divorce of her parents, Elena changed her last name - she became Tereshkova. In her interviews, she rarely touches on personal topics and does not like to remember her childhood. Journalists have repeatedly tried to think out what the daughter of astronauts is silent about. Newspapers often write that the parents were very strict with Elena, they could hit her in the face. In their opinion, she was deprived of her childhood. Tereshkova's daughter herself never commented on these speculations.
Elena Andriyanovna, like her mother, was married twice. She has two children - Alexey Mayorov, who was born in a marriage with pilot Igor Mayorov, and son Andrey - from her second husband, also a pilot, Andrey Rodionov.
What are the grandchildren of Valentina Tereshkova doing
Valentina Vladimirovna is very proud of her grandchildren. In an interview, she gladly talks about their achievements. The boys accompany their legendary grandmother to almost all events where she happens.
The grandson of Valentina Tereshkova, Alexey Mayorov, is already quite an adult, he graduated from a comprehensive school and today is a student at Moscow State University. Before entering the university, the young man passed military service in the ranks of the Russian Army. Both he and his younger brother Andrey call their grandmother Valya.
Andrei Rodionov, the second grandson of Valentina Tereshkova, is seriously interested in music, plays the violin beautifully, but has not yet decided on the choice of profession. The boy does not exclude that he will connect his life with the military profession, but he does not yet know whether it will be space.
The boys speak of their grandmother as strict but fair. They do not hide the fact that in childhood, for pranks, they could be punished by her even with a belt, but they have no offense for this.
Tereshkova's career after leaving the space squad
Valentina Vladimirovna is not only the first woman-cosmonaut, but also a very active social activist. After retiring from the space industry, she went into politics. Back in Soviet times, Tereshkova was a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, after perestroika she became a people's deputy.
Since 2008, Valentina Tereshkova has become a member of the ruling party of the Russian Federation as a deputy from the Yaroslavl region. In addition, under her "leadership" there is a fund that is engaged in patriotic and charitable activities, provides assistance to veterans and participants in hostilities.
Even the heart surgery underwent in 2018 did not become a reason for Valentina Vladimirovna to "retire." She heads the ethics committee in the State Duma of the Russian Federation, is active in the framework of the activities of her foundation, continues to delight her admirers, relatives and friends with a radiant smile.
