All three women followed the same standard procedures before launch day. They filled out a captain’s logbook, сhecked their space suits, and got used to the spacecraft cabin. But by this time, Ponomareva had lost all motivation and there were moments when tears pricked the back of her eyes. Korolev asked how she would feel if the first woman in space was someone else.

“Yes, I would feel hurt,” replied Ponomareva.

After a short pause, Korolev said he would feel the same.