[FPSPACE] Tereshkova in London

[Phillip Clark]

>From Jim Oberg:

> My initial reaction is highly negative, that this accidental, fairly
undistinguished person, almost randomly thrown into a historical footnote,
who served very enthusiastically as a propagandist for a totalitarian regime
which deservedly went onto the ash-heap of history, should be honored over
many many women who made long, difficult commitments to advancing social
good.
>
> But then, I'm an old Cold War caveman anyway....

>From the little coverage which this event has had so far, these awards in
London are for people who made significant headlines and/or contributions
during the current century (which does not end until the end of this year,
of course).

Of course, Tereshkova as the first woman in space was random.   But it was
no more random than the selection of Gagarin as the first man in the
space, Glenn as the first American in orbit, Armstrong and Aldrin as the
first men on the Moon.   It was all accidental as to how the crew
selections came around.

So, on this basis, how do you honour space pioneers ?   Ignore them all
because their places in history were due to random selection ?

Phillip Clark


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Phillip S Clark                                     22 Winterbourne Close
Molniya Space Consultancy                           Hastings
Compiler/Publisher, Worldwide Satellite Launches    E Sussex  TN34 1XG
                                                    U.K.

Specialist in "space archeology" - the older and more obscure the more 
interesting it is !
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