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Sally Ride
1951–2012 · Physicist and Astronaut
The first American woman in space, flying aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1983 and inspiring a generation of young people to pursue science.
“It's too bad this is such a big deal. It's too bad our society isn't further along.”
Why is this scientist famous?
Becoming the first American woman in space, aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1983.
Sally Ride became the first American woman in space aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1983 and flew again in 1984. After leaving NASA, she worked in physics, space-policy planning and science education. In 2001 she co-founded Sally Ride Science, which created programmes and materials to encourage young people, especially girls, to engage with STEM.
Sally's story
Early Life
Born in Encino, Los Angeles, in 1951, Sally Kristen Ride showed early talent in both science and sport. She was a nationally ranked junior tennis player who briefly considered turning professional, but she chose science instead. She attended Swarthmore College for a year before transferring to Stanford University, where she earned bachelor's degrees in both physics and English literature — a rare combination — and then a doctorate in physics in 1978.
Joining NASA
The same year she completed her doctorate, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was recruiting astronauts for the Space Shuttle programme and, for the first time, was accepting women. NASA selected 35 astronaut candidates from more than 8,000 applicants in 1978. Ride was one of six women in the group. She was assigned to the crew of STS-7 as a mission specialist, making her the first American woman scheduled for spaceflight.
First Flight
On 18 June 1983, Ride launched aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger, becoming the first American woman in space. During the six-day mission, she helped deploy two communications satellites and operated the shuttle's robotic arm to deploy and retrieve the Shuttle Pallet Satellite SPAS-01. The flight was a global sensation. Ride also faced gender-based questions from reporters that male astronauts were rarely asked. She responded calmly and kept the focus on her training and the mission.
Challenger and Columbia
After her second shuttle flight in 1984, Ride served on the Rogers Commission investigating the 1986 Challenger disaster, where evidence about the shuttle's O-ring seals helped establish the cause. In 1986, she became NASA's special assistant for strategic planning and in 1987 delivered a report about the agency's future in space. In 2003, she served on the Columbia Accident Investigation Board, becoming the only person to serve on both shuttle disaster investigation panels.
Inspiring the Next Generation
Ride left NASA in 1987 and spent time at Stanford University's Center for International Security and Cooperation. In 1989 she joined the University of California, San Diego, as a professor of physics and director of the California Space Institute. She grew frustrated that so few girls chose science and dedicated the rest of her life to changing that. She wrote seven children's science books, and in 2001 Ride co-founded Sally Ride Science with Tam O'Shaughnessy, Karen Flammer, Terry McEntee and Alann Lopes. The organisation created programmes and materials designed to encourage young people, especially girls, to engage with science and technology.
What did they discover?
First American Woman in Space
Flew aboard STS-7 on the Space Shuttle Challenger in June 1983, operating the robotic arm to deploy and retrieve satellites — a role she had helped design and test on the ground.
Robotic Arm Operations
Operated the Space Shuttle's Canadian-built robotic arm during STS-7 to deploy and retrieve satellites, demonstrating an important part of shuttle operations.
Challenger Investigation
Served on the Rogers Commission investigating the Challenger disaster and contributed to the technical investigation into its causes.
Sally Ride Science
Co-founded Sally Ride Science in 2001, an organisation that created programmes and materials to engage young people, especially girls, in STEM.
Amazing facts
She was a nationally ranked junior tennis player who considered turning pro before choosing physics.
She was the only person to serve on the investigation boards of both the Challenger and Columbia shuttle disasters.
She earned bachelor's degrees in both physics and English literature from Stanford — a combination almost unheard of for an astronaut.
She co-wrote seven children's science books, several of them about space exploration.
She was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in 1988 and the Astronaut Hall of Fame in 2003.
Her partner of 27 years, Tam O'Shaughnessy, accepted the Presidential Medal of Freedom on her behalf in 2013.
She operated the shuttle's robotic arm to deploy and retrieve a satellite — a task she had helped design and test before ever flying.
Timeline
Born in Encino, Los Angeles, California
Earned bachelor's degrees in physics and English from Stanford
Earned a PhD in physics from Stanford and was selected by NASA as an astronaut
Became the first American woman in space aboard STS-7 on the Space Shuttle Challenger
Flew her second shuttle mission, STS-41G, spending eight days in orbit
Served on the Rogers Commission investigating the Challenger disaster
Left NASA and joined Stanford University's Center for International Security and Cooperation
Joined UC San Diego as professor of physics and director of the California Space Institute
Co-founded Sally Ride Science to inspire young people in STEM
Served on the Columbia Accident Investigation Board
Died of pancreatic cancer in La Jolla, California, age 61
Awards & honours
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