THE first woman to go into space has offered to set out on one-way trip to Mars at the age of 76.

Valentina Tereshkova became a feminist icon after her solo space flight in 1963 at age 26.

Ms Tereshkova, 76, said Mars was her favourite planet and she harbours dreams of going there.

"We know the human limits. And for us this remains a dream. Most likely the first flight will be one way. But I am ready."

The Mail Online reports Ms Tereshkova had been part of the group who studied the possibility of going to the Red Planet.



The former textile worker was an amateur parachutist when she was recruited into a cosmonaut programme in Moscow.

She was trained with three other women as part of Kruschev's project for the first woman in space to be from the Soviet Union.

She was the only woman to complete the mission and during her three-day flight, she circled the Earth 48 times and set a new record for time in space by completing the most orbits in the shortest recorded time.

After space travel she embraced a career in politics and Russian President Vladimir Putin presented Ms Tereshkova with an award for outstanding contribution to the state in 2007.

On June 16, Russia will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Ms Tereshkova's historic flight.