SALLY RIDE: AMERICA'S FIRST WOMAN IN SPACE -- JUNE 18, 1983 - JSC
Twenty-seven years ago, Sally Ride became the first American woman in
space on Jun 18, 1983. She accomplished this historic milestone when
she flew aboard Space Shuttle Challenger as a mission specialist for
the six-day STS-7 mission. Ride, a southern California native, was also
a mission specialist for a second shuttle mission, STS 41-G in October of 1984.
Since leaving the astronaut corps in 1987, Ride, who has a Ph.D. in physics,
has taught at various universities and authored several books. In 2001,
she founded Sally Ride Science, an innovative program dedicated to promote
student interest in mathematics, science and technology. She is a member
of the National Women's Hall of Fame and the Astronaut Hall of Fame, and
has received numerous awards, including two NASA Space Flight Medals.
(Interview conducted April 21, 2008).