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Sally Kristen Ride (May 26, 1951 – July 23, 2012) was an American astronaut and physicist. Born in Los Angeles, she joined NASA in 1978, and in 1983 became the first American woman and the third woman to fly in space, after cosmonauts Valentina Tereshkova in 1963 and Svetlana Savitskaya in 1982.
Learn about the life and achievements of Sally Ride, who broke the gender barrier in space in 1983 and became a pioneer of science education. Read her biography, quotes, and tributes from NASA and other sources.
May 22, 2024 · Sally Ride 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. Ride showed great early promise as a tennis player, but she eventually gave up.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
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.
- Early history
- Early life
- Early life and education
- Preparation
- Operations
- Later career
- Other activities
- Death and legacy
- Legacy
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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...
Learn about the life and achievements of Sally Ride, the first American woman to fly in space and a pioneer for women in science and STEM. Discover her tennis career, her NASA missions, her relationship with Tam O'Shaughnessy, and her legacy.
Jul 24, 2012 · By Denise Grady. July 23, 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...
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Apr 2, 2014 · Learn about Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, who studied physics and English at Stanford University and became an astronaut and astrophysicist. Find out about her achievements, awards, death and legacy, and see some of her quotes.
