President Obama shares an emotional moment with Tam O’Shaughnessy while presenting her with Ride’s posthumous Medal of Freedom in 2013. She was an astronaut on a space shuttle mission. She made a brave decision to quit her studies at ‘Swarthmore College’ to try a career in professional tennis. Only two other women preceded her: Valentina Tereshkova (1963) and Svetlana Savitskaya (1982), both from the former Soviet Union. In one of her Sesame Street segments, Sally appears with Grundgetta, girlfriend of Oscar the Grouch. Sally and her younger sister, Bear, chose contrasting career paths. Ten fun facts about Sally Ride Fact 1 After joining NASA in 1978, she also became the first American woman to go into space and the youngest American astronaut to go into space. Sally K Ride, the first American woman to travel into space was also the youngest American in space. Regents of the University of California. She began spaceflight training in 1978 and was one of the first six female astronauts selected by NASA among 8,000 other hopefuls. Ride was training for a third shuttle mission when the Challenger exploded after launch in January 1986, a catastrophe that caused NASA to suspend shuttle flights for more than two years. NASA photo/Carla Cioffi. On June 18, 1983, she became the first American woman in space while rocketing into orbit aboard the shuttle orbiter Challenger. Ride resigned from NASA in 1987, and in 1989 she became a professor of physics at the University of California, San Diego, and director of its California Space Institute (until 1996). Only two other women preceded her: Valentina Tereshkova (1963) and Svetlana Savitskaya (1982), both from the former Soviet Union. NASA photo. Ride and Carol Joyce (Anderson) Ride of Encino, California. She was born on May 26, 1951, in Encino, California. She flew on the space shuttle Challenger twice. Born on May 26 #22. Sally Kristen Ride was an American astronaut and physicist. (858) 534-2230. In August 1979 she completed her NASA training, obtained a pilot’s license, and became eligible for assignment as a U.S. space shuttle mission specialist. Sally Ride Timeline Timeline Description: Born on May 26, 1951, Sally Ride grew up to be the first American woman in space, a successful physicist, astronaut and role model for little girls. An intensive investigation by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and a commission appointed by U.S. Pres. Dr. Ride is in the shuttle mockup and integration laboratory. Sally Ride at Interview, 1983 Astronaut Sally K. Ride, mission specialist for STS-7, responds to a question from an interviewer during a taping session for ABC's Night Line. Sally Kristen Ride (May 26, 1951 – July 23, 2012) was an American physicist and astronaut. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. She began as a capsule communicator, part of the teams ground support, for the … Following her career with NASA, Ride was a passionate advocate for high quality science education for children. Good tennis player: Aside from being a great astronaut, Ride was also a very talented tennis player. First Name Sally #1. Hindsight is 20/20. Updates? Born on May 26, 1951, Ride grew up in Los Angeles and went to Stanford University, where she was a double major in physics and English. Sally Ride is remembered as the first American woman in space and as a champion of diversity and equity in science education. Born In 1951. Born in Los Angeles, she joined NASA in 1978 and became the first American woman in space in 1983. Thirty-five years ago today, on June 18, 1983, Sally Ride became the first American woman in space. Sally Ride became America’s first woman in space when she flew aboard the space shuttle in 1983. Astronaut. Sally Ride entered the history books on June 18, 1983 when, as part of the crew of Space Shuttle STS-7, she became the first American woman in space. 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA 92093 What about the first woman to walk in space? She received a Ph.D. in astrophysics and began her training and evaluation courses that same year. Sally Ride died on Monday, July 23rd, 2012 in La Jolla, California, USA. … Corrections? Ride received bachelor's degrees in both subjects in 1973. But Ride was more than an impressive resume in a space suit. She was the first American woman in space, having joined NASA in 1978. Sally Ride – First American Woman in Space | NASA. Although she was interested in science from a very young age, tennis was actually her first love. Astronauts. Here's the untold truth of Sally Ride. Ride worked for two years at Stanford University's Cente On June 18, 1983, Sally Ride became the first American woman to fly in space. Most Popular #8089. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Sally Ride attended Swarthmore College for three semesters then took a physics course at the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Sally Kristen Ride was an American astronaut and astrophysicist.She was the first American woman to reach outer space.. Ride was born on May 26, 1951. Sally Ride was the first American female astronaut. Sally Kristen Ride is the older of two daughters of Dale B. She joined NASA in 1977, and underwent years of rigorous physical and scientific training. Find out how much you know about women and the final frontier with this quiz. Had she taken Billie Jean King's advice, Sally Ride might have been a professional tennis player. Astronaut #4. Photo courtesy of Molly Tyson⁠. Her father was a professor of political science and her mother was a counselor. Sally Ride was a U.S. astronaut. She served on a second space mission aboard Challenger in October 1984; the crew included another woman, Ride’s childhood friend Kathryn Sullivan, who became the first American woman to walk in space. She was born May 26, 1951. Her parents encouraged Sally and her younger sister Karen to study hard and do their best, but allowed the children the freedom to develop at their own pace. NASA photo. Ronald Reagan and chaired by former secretary of state William Rogers followed. Harvard-Westlake School. Omissions? In 1978, as a doctoral candidate and teaching assistant in laser physics at Stanford, she was selected by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as one of six women astronaut candidates. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Who was the first woman to leave Earth? To mark the 20th anniversary of the founding of Sally Ride Science, here are 20 things you might not know about Sally Ride: Billie Jean King played Sally, then an undergraduate at Stanford, in a tennis mixed doubles exhibition in 1972. NASA was looking for astronauts. The male players were Dick Peters and Dennis Van der Meer. Sally Kristen Ride (May 26, 1951 to July 23, 2012) was an American physicist and astronaut. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. She was the only person to have served on the both of the committees that investigated the Challenger and Columbia space shuttle disasters. Ride showed great early promise as a tennis player, but she eventually gave up her plans to play professionally and attended Stanford University, where she earned bachelor’s degrees in English and physics (1973). Her complete name was Sally Kristen Ride. Astronaut. She earned a Ph.D. in physics from Stanford University.She joined NASA in … But those were only two aspects of a rich and multi-faceted life. She was born in Los Angeles, California. Sally Ride Facts. Sally's Pix Activity. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Sally Ride Facts. Stanford University. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sally-Ride, Famous Scientists - Biography of Sally Ride, National Aviation Hall of Fame - Biography of Sally Kristen Ride, Academy of Achievement - Biography of Sally K. Ride, National Women's Hall of Fame - Biography of Sally Ride, Sally Ride - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Sally Ride - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up), National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Ride served on the presidential commission appointed to investigate the accident, and she repeated that role as a member of the commission that investigated the in-flight breakup of the orbiter Columbia in February 2003. Sally Ride was a 27-year-old Ph.D. candidate, looking for postdoctoral work in astrophysics, when an item in the Stanford University newspaper caught her eye. Ride was celebrated as a heroine and a pioneer. Interesting Sally Ride Facts: Sally Ride may had been a scientist and a physicist and founded the Sally Ride Science in San Diego … Three days before her first spaceflight, Sally gets ready to take off from Houston in a T-38 jet to fly to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. … In this activity, students examine some of Sally’s favorite photos of Earth from space. Valentina Tereshkova. She used the arm to help put satellites … NASA photo. Sally Ride is remembered as the first American woman in space and as a champion of diversity and equity in science education. Sally Ride was an American physicist and astronaut who achieved iconic status by becoming the first American woman and third overall to travel to space. In 1983 she became the first U.S. woman to travel into outer space . She was one of only six women to be accepted, out of 8,000 applicants. Born in 1951 #11. But those were only two aspects of a rich and multi-faceted life. Ride is honored by Google in the May 26 doodle. Copyright © 2021 Sally Ride Is A Member Of . While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. She remains the youngest American astronaut to have traveled to space, having done so at … Born in Los Angeles, she joined NASA in 1978, and in 1983 became the first American woman in space. She said her favorite part of being in orbit was looking out the shuttle’s window at Earth below. Two months after Sally’s death, astronaut Sandra Magnus places a rose at a tree planted in Sally’s memory in Astronaut Memorial Grove at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. The shuttle mission lasted six days, during which time she helped deploy two communications satellites and carry out a variety of experiments. Sally Ride immediately pursued her dream when she saw an ad in the Stanford student newspaper about the National Aeronautics and Space Administrations (NASA) invitation for qualified students to join their astronaut program in 1977. Keep up with campus news by subscribing to, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science. Terence Henricks. She also wrote or collaborated on several children’s books about space exploration and her personal experiences as an astronaut. Sally Ride, in full Sally Kristen Ride, (born May 26, 1951, Encino, California, U.S.—died July 23, 2012, La Jolla, California), American astronaut, the first American woman to travel into outer space. Sally Ride Fans Also Viewed . Her job was to work the robotic arm. She was the third woman in space overall, after USSR cosmonauts Valentina Tereshkova and Svetlana Savitskaya. She died due … Sally Ride Popularity . From the 1990s Ride initiated or headed a number of programs and organizations devoted to fostering science in education, particularly to providing support for schoolgirls interested in science, mathematics, or technology. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). This lesson will teach you about Sally Ride, how she became an astronaut, what she did in space, and some other neat facts about this amazing woman. She flew on the space shuttle Challenger on a … She applied for a spot after earning her degrees in Stanford. Fact 2 There is a ship named after her by the US Navy, as well as a song called "Sally Ride" by Janelle Monae. Sally Ride was the first American woman to fly in the space. After flying twice on the Orbiter Challenger, she left NASA in 1987. She had one sibling, a sister named Karen. It Was Only After Her Death That She Was Outed as a Lesbian, Just Like Her Sister. The incident immediately grounded the shuttle program. Ride married fellow astronaut Steven Hawley in 1982; they divorced five years later. Ride remains the youngest American astronaut to have traveled to space, having done so at the age of 32. Sally Kristen Ride was born on May 26, 1951 in Encino, California. Gemini Astronaut #1. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Sally, right, and Kathryn Sullivan synchronize watches before entering shuttle Challenger to launch on mission STS-41G, Sally’s second spaceflight. Sally Ride, in full Sally Kristen Ride, (born May 26, 1951, Encino, California, U.S.—died July 23, 2012, La Jolla, California), American astronaut, the first American woman to travel into outer space. Sally Ride Science at UC San Diego is a nonprofit organization run by the University of California, San Diego.It was founded as a company in 2001 by Sally Ride, America’s first woman in space, along with Tam O’Shaughnessy, Karen Flammer, Terry McEntee, and Alann Lopes to inspire young people in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and to promote STEM literacy. June 18 will be the 35th anniversary of Sally Ride's journey as the first American woman in space. Previous joke aside, we should admit that for Ride herself, tennis was certainly a … Grab a copy of our NEW encyclopedia for Kids! And Sally Ride, who on June 16, 1983, became the first American woman in space, played an invaluable role in this progress. In 1999–2000 she held executive positions with Space.com, a Web site presenting space, astronomy, and technology content. There is a ship named after her by the US Navy, as well as a song called "Sally Ride" by Janelle Monae. During her life, … While many know her as a space pioneer, she was … Growing up Sally was a bright student who loved science and math. All rights reserved. In 2013 she was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Her father, Dale, was a political science professor and her mother volunteered as a counselor at a prison for women. Steven Hawley. On June 18, 1983, NASA Astronaut Sally K. Ride became the first American woman in space, when she launched with her four crewmates aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger on mission STS-7.