The First American Woman in Space

Launching into mission STS-7

In 1978, Ride secured her place in history and joined NASA as one of the first six women to be selected as astronauts. In 1978, NASA’s astronaut class, the first to include women, became known as the “Thirty-Five New Guys.” The students began training at the Johnson Space Center for the next five years. After riding, they trained with their three other classmates, and then they were assigned to the STS-7 mission. Aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger, Ride and her four male crewmates went on the six-day mission to deploy two communications satellites and perform scientific experiments. During the mission, Ride served as the flight engineer, operating the shuttle’s mechanical arm to help achieve their assigned tasks. 

“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,” Ride said during a 2008 interview. “I didn’t really think about it that much at the time – but I came to appreciate what an honor it was to be selected to be the first to get a chance to go into space.”

Ride’s Life before NASA

Sally Ride was born in Encino, California, near the Los Angeles region. Before discovering her passion for space, Ride was a tennis player throughout her younger years and aspired to be a professional tennis player. After many years of deciding what she wanted to do with her career, she enrolled at Stanford University, where she completed her Bachelor of Science in physics and a Bachelor of Arts in English. Continuing her college education, she later earned her doctorate in physics. 

In 1977, NASA published a newspaper ad seeking young scientists to serve as “mission specialists.” Ride knew she would be a great fit at NASA with her scientific and technological skills, so she applied for the position. Out of 8,000 applicants, she was one of the five women chosen to work alongside the NASA astronauts. Without knowing it, Sally Ride would later become the first American woman to voyage into space and serve as an inspiration for young women all over the world. 

Inspiring Others for Generations to Come

“As the first American woman to travel into space, Sally was a national hero and a powerful role model,” President Barack Obama said in a statement released by the White House. “She inspired generations of young girls to reach for the stars and later fought tirelessly to help them get there, advocating for a greater focus on science and math in our schools.”

After finishing her role at NASA in 1989, Ride voyaged beyond to become a professor of physics and director of the University of California’s Space Institute. She later built her own company, Sally Ride Science, to serve as a promotion for learning and inspiration for young girls and boys whose dream was to pursue careers in STEM-related fields. During her lifetime, Ride served as a leader and powerful role model for women around the world to signify the importance of diversity in science education and careers. Without Sally Ride’s experience and demonstration of strength, many individuals within the STEM field would not be where they are today. 

Sally Ride believed that “You can’t be what you can’t see.” Through demonstrating her advocacy and determination, she forever changed the direction of STEM by reminding young people that they could see themselves as scientists, astronauts, and engineers. Sally Ride made a mark on the world and still reminds us that we should always reach for the stars.