6 March 2017, 13:03 GMT
MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Tereshkova flew into space in 1963 in a Vostok 6 spacecraft. She spent almost three days in space and still is the only woman to have been on a solo mission there.
After her retirement, she pursued a political career, becoming a member of the Russian parliament’s lower house, the State Duma.
"Starting with your legendary space flight, you have always been an example and a symbol of how we should serve the nation … and you continue your active work in the State Duma," Putin said.
During her audience with the president, Tereshkova was presented with a high state decoration, the Order for Merit to the Fatherland of the first class.
