Today in History: June 16, Valentina Tereshkova becomes first woman in space

Today is Monday, June 16, the 167th day of 2025. There are 198 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On June 16, 1963, the world’s first female space traveler, Valentina Tereshkova, 26, was launched into orbit by the Soviet Union aboard Vostok 6. Tereshkova spent 71 hours in flight, circling the Earth 48 times before returning safely.

Also on this date:

In 1858, accepting the Illinois Republican Party’s nomination for the U.S. Senate, Abraham Lincoln said the issue of slavery in the United States had to be resolved, declaring, “a house divided against itself cannot stand.”