You are correct. It was a cosmmonaut woman who was first. Let me rephrase, said cosmonaut was the first to return to earth. A prior soviet woman burned up on re-entry. Her initial distress calls were reputed to be heard by two Italian ham operators.
> A prior soviet woman burned up on re-entry. Her initial distress calls were reputed to be heard by two Italian ham operators.
Geez, I never heard that before. Got a link?