First woman in space brought down to earth by anger over bid to prolong Putin rule

FILE PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) shakes hands with Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman cosmonaut in space, during their meeting on Tereshkova's 70th birthday at the presidential residence of Novo-Ogaryovo outside Moscow March 6, 2007. REUTERS/Natalia Kolesnikova/Pool (RUSSIA)/File Photo

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Valentina Tereshkova was hailed as a hero when she became the first woman in space in 1963.

Now 83, she has became a hate figure for some Russians after this week putting forward a constitutional amendment that could allow President Vladimir Putin to stay in power until 2036.