KBC 14: Which bird’s name, in Russian, did Valentina Tereshkova, the first and youngest woman in space, use as her radio call sign?

KBC 14: Which bird’s name, in Russian, did Valentina Tereshkova, the first and youngest woman in space, use as her radio call sign?

Options:

Seagull

Eagle

Albatross

Crane

Answer: Seagull

Soviet Prime Minister Nikita Khrushchev himself made the final selection, choosing Tereshkova, with Solovyova as first backup and Ponomaryova as second backup. On June 14, 1963, Vostok 5 launched with Valeriy Bykovskiy on board. Two days later, Tereshkova launched aboard Vostok 6 and made history by becoming the first woman in space, using the call sign Chaika (чайка), or Seagull.