Search results
Learn about the life and achievements of Sally Ride, the first American woman and the third woman to fly in space. She was a NASA astronaut, a Stanford professor, a Challenger commission member, and a LGBT pioneer.
In a space agency filled with trailblazers, Sally Ride was a pioneer of a different sort. The soft-spoken California physicist broke the gender barrier on June 18, 1983, when she became the first American woman in space. Sally Ride died on July 23, 2012, at the age of 61.
Jul 24, 2012 · Sally Ride, the first American woman to fly in space, died on Monday at her home in San Diego. She was 61. The cause was pancreatic cancer, her company, Sally Ride Science, announced on its Web...
Sep 13, 2024 · Sally Ride (born May 26, 1951, Encino, California, U.S.—died July 23, 2012, La Jolla, California) was an American astronaut, the first American woman to travel into outer space. Only two other women preceded her: Valentina Tereshkova (1963) and Svetlana Savitskaya (1982), both from the former Soviet Union .
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Early history
- Early life
- Early life and education
- Preparation
- Operations
- Later career
- Other activities
- Death and legacy
- Legacy
Sally Ride was the first American woman in space. She made her journey into history on June 18, 1983. Throughout her life, Dr. Ride broke barriers and worked to ensure that girls and women were encouraged to do the same.
Sally Kristen Ride was born on May 26, 1951, in Encino, California to Carol Joyce and Dale Burdell Ride. Growing up, Sally and her sister were encouraged to follow their individual interests and they had a happy, loving home.
As a child, Ride was an avid tennis player, and had dreams of becoming a professional. She began playing tennis at age 10, and subsequently won a scholarship to the Westlake School for Girls in Los Angeles. While in her teens, Ride was ranked in the top 20 nationally on the junior tennis circuit. After graduating from high school, she attended Swar...
Ride was one of five crewmembers aboard the space shuttle Challenger STS-7. On June 18, 1983, she became the first American woman in space, and the youngest American in space. The mission took one week to complete. Before her launch, Dr. Ride was interviewed several times about her preparation for going into space. Among questions about her trainin...
During the mission, Ride was the flight engineer. She launched two communication satellites and operated the shuttles mechanical arm as well as conducted experiments. During a 2008 interview, Ride recalled, On launch day, there was so much excitement and so much happening around us in crew quarters, even on the way to the launch pad, I didnt really...
On October 5, 1984, Ride went on another shuttle mission- the STS-41G. She spent eight days conducting scientific observations of the Earth. She also worked on refueling techniques for shuttles. After her second mission, Ride worked on investigating the 1986 Challenger accident. After the investigation, she took the role of special assistant to the...
Ride served as the Director of the California Space Science Institute, a research institute of the University of California. She also worked as a physicist and physics professor at the University of California, San Diego. Ride was a member of the President's Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology and served on the Advisory Board of the Nat...
She passed away on July 23, 2012 after a 17-month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 61. During her life, Ride kept her personal life private. She married fellow astronaut Steve Hawley in 1982, but they divorced in 1987.After her passing, Tam OShaughnessy opened up about their 27 year relationship. They met as children while competing in tennis...
Dr. Sally Ride was passionate about improving science education and helping young women and girls foster an interest in science. One of her endeavors was Imaginary Lines, which supports girls interested in math, science, and technology. She also wrote seven childrens books with space exploration themes. She and OShaughnessy established Sally Ride S...
Jun 18, 2018 · Learn about Sally Ride's historic flight on STS-7 in 1983, when she became the first American woman to fly in space. Compare her mission with that of Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space in 1963.
Jul 24, 2023 · Learn about Sally Ride, the pioneering astronaut who flew on the space shuttle Challenger in 1983 and became a role model for many. Explore her biography, achievements, books, photos and more on NASA's website.
