What is sally ride famous for

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 Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. During her sophomore year, she left Swarthmore to pursue a career in tennis. After three months she determined that college was a better option for her, and enrolled at Stanford University. In 1973, she received a Bachelor of Science in physics and a Bachelor of Arts

Sally Ride (1951-2012)

Sally Ride’s place in history was assured on June 18, 1983, when she rocketed into space on Challenger’s STS-7 mission with four male crewmates. Her contribution to America’s space program continued right up until her death.

After two trips to orbit aboard the shuttle, she went on to an award-winning academic career at the University of California, San Diego, where her expertise and wisdom were widely sought on matters related to space. She holds the distinction of being the only person to serve as a member of both investigation boards following NASA’s two space shuttle accidents.

She also served as a member of the Review of U.S. Human Spaceflight Plans Committee in 2009 which informed many of the decisions about NASA’s current human spaceflight programs.

“The fact that I was going to be the first American woman to go into space carried huge expectations along with it,” Ride recalled in an interview for the 25th anniversary of her flight in 2008. “That was made pretty clear the day that I was told I was sel

Sally Ride

American physicist and astronaut (1951–2012)

For other uses, see Sally Ride (disambiguation).

Sally Ride

Ride in 1984

Born

Sally Kristen Ride


(1951-05-26)May 26, 1951

Los Angeles, California, U.S.

DiedJuly 23, 2012(2012-07-23) (aged 61)

La Jolla, California, U.S.

EducationSwarthmore College
University of California, Los Angeles
Stanford University (BA, BS, MS, PhD)
Spouse

Steven Hawley

(m. 1982; div. 1987)​
PartnerTam O'Shaughnessy (1985–2012)
AwardsPresidential Medal of Freedom (2013, posthumous)
Space career

Time in space

14d 7h 46m
SelectionNASA Group 8 (1978)
Missions

Mission insignia

RetirementAugust 15, 1987

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 cosmonautsValentina Tereshkova in 1963 and Svetlana Savitskaya in 1982. She was

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