S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia staff and management congratulate you on the fortieth anniversary of the space flight of the first woman in space.

The three-day mission, which you carried out on-board Vostok-6 June 16 through 19, 1963, when you, flying in low-Earth orbit simultaneously with V.F.Bykovsky who was piloting Vostok-5, made 48 orbits around Earth, was one of the first important steps made by the Earthlings on the road towards the actual exploration of space. Steps that were brave and necessary for the terrestrial civilization, most of which were made as a result of creative and dedicated work of our compatriots - developers and testers of new rocket and space technology, with the leading role played by the staff of the Special Design Bureau number 1 (now known as RSC Energia), which was founded and headed by the Chief Designer of the rocket and space systems, academician S.P.Korolev. Owing to these first steps, the Mankind was able to start the wide-ranging exploration of the near-Earth space using manned spacecraft and space stations. Without all this, it would have been unthinkable today to embark on the most ambitious project of the 21st century, the International Space Station (ISS) project, which is being carried out through joint efforts of many countries in the interests of further advancing our civilization towards gaining the knowledge of the mysteries of the Universe, obtaining new data in various fields of science and technology, developing and using advanced technologies.

Your knowledge and courage, confidence of all those who prepared and carried out the Vostok-6 mission in its successful completion became the guarantees of the new achievement of the domestic space science. This mission made a significant contribution to the development and improvement of the manned rocket and space technology by demonstrating to the entire Mankind that the space missions were henceforth accessible to women as well. It became one more proof of the validity of design concepts and engineering solutions developed by the Special Design Bureau Number One. It became one of the precious keystones of the experience, which provided the foundation for the projects of the subsequent manned spacecraft Voskhod, Soyuz, Buran and space stations Salyut, Mir, ISS. The projects implemented in the subsequent years by our company, which is the prime company for manned space program, in close cooperation with dozens of companies and organizations in the industry, Academy of Sciences, and Ministry of Defense.

Dear Valentina Vladimirovna, the example set by your mission became an enticement for the women to join the space program: today they travel along the road of space exploration side-by-side with men towards understanding the mysteries of the Universe.

Your work as the Chairman of the Committee of Soviet Women, vice-president of the International Democratic Federation of Women helped to strengthen peace and friendship between the people, to establish close and multi-lateral ties between the women of the world. Being the head of the Russian Center for International Scientific and Cultural Cooperation, you continue to work for the cause of improving mutual understanding between the people of Earth, organizing joint efforts of Mankind to solve the problems that it faces, and, of course, to address the tasks of space exploration.

Dear Valentina Vladimirovna, we wish you and your relatives health, the joy of living, happiness and many years of life among your close relatives and friends.

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