In the history of space exploration, who was the first woman to travel into space aboard a spacecraft?

Introduction / Context:
Space exploration history includes several milestones, such as the first satellite, the first human in space, and the first woman in space. Knowing the names and nationalities of these pioneers is common general knowledge. This question focuses on the first woman who actually flew into space, marking a major step in the participation of women in space programs.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The topic is the first woman in space, not the first woman on the Moon or the first woman from a particular country.
• The options include astronauts and athletes from different countries.
• You must select the woman who first traveled into space on a spacecraft.
• The time period is the early 1960s, in the era of Soviet and American competition in space.

Concept / Approach:
The first woman in space was Valentina Tereshkova from the Soviet Union. She flew on the Vostok 6 mission in June 1963. She orbited the Earth multiple times and became a global symbol of female participation in science and space flight. Sunita Williams is an Indian origin astronaut from the United States who flew much later on space shuttle and space station missions. Mae Jemison was the first African American woman in space, also later in history. Tamara Press was a Soviet athlete, not an astronaut.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Soviet Union achieved several early space firsts, including the first satellite, first human, and first woman in space.Step 2: Remember that Valentina Tereshkova flew on Vostok 6 in 1963, becoming the first woman to orbit the Earth.Step 3: Recognize that Sunita Williams and Mae Jemison are later astronauts associated with the United States space program, not the first woman in space overall.Step 4: Note that Tamara Press was famous in athletics, not for space flight.Step 5: Choose Valentina Tereshkova as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Short biographies of Valentina Tereshkova always highlight that she was the first woman in space. Lists of space firsts usually show Yuri Gagarin as the first man in space and Valentina Tereshkova as the first woman. In contrast, information about Sunita Williams and Mae Jemison highlights other important achievements but never claims that they were the first woman ever in space. This confirms that Tereshkova is the correct answer for this question.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Sunita Williams is a well known NASA astronaut with Indian heritage who holds records for spacewalk time but is not the first woman in space.
Mae Jemison was the first African American woman in space, flying on the space shuttle Endeavour, but she came after Tereshkova.
Tamara Press was an Olympic track and field athlete from the Soviet Union and did not fly in space.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners may be influenced by recent media coverage of astronauts and think of more recent figures like Sunita Williams or Mae Jemison. Others may choose a name that simply sounds familiar without recalling the specific historical claim. To avoid confusion, it is helpful to memorize a short list of space exploration milestones, including Valentina Tereshkova as the first woman in space in 1963.

Final Answer:
The first woman to travel into space was Valentina Tereshkova.