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Introduction

Sally Ride was a U.S. astronaut. In 1983 she became the first U.S. woman to travel into outer space.

Early Life and Education

Sally Kristen Ride was born on May 26, 1951, in Encino, California. She was a gifted athlete, especially at tennis. She thought about playing professionally but decided to pursue physics. She attended Stanford University in California, where she earned bachelor’s degrees in English and in physics in 1973 and a master’s in physics in 1975. While working on her doctorate, also at Stanford, Ride was chosen by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to be one of six women astronaut candidates. She received her doctorate in physics in 1978 and completed the astronaut training program in 1979.

Career

After completing her training, Ride worked as a space shuttle mission specialist. On June 18, 1983, Ride made her first voyage into outer space aboard the space shuttle Challenger. The shuttle was in space for six days.

Ride took a second trip aboard the Challenger in 1984. During this mission Ride’s friend Kathryn Sullivan became the first U.S. woman to walk in space. In 1986 the Challenger exploded as it was taking off for another mission. Ride was one of the astronauts who helped to investigate the explosion. Ride left NASA in 1987.

Later Life

Ride later worked as director of the California Space Institute and as a professor of physics at the University of California, San Diego. In 2003 Ride helped to investigate another space shuttle disaster, after the shuttle Columbia broke up as it was returning to Earth.

Ride wrote several children’s books about outer space. She also dedicated her time to programs or organizations that worked to promote science in education, especially helping girls interested in STEM. She died on July 23, 2012, in La Jolla, California.

Ride was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013. She was one of five women to be chosen for the American Women Quarters Program in 2022. The program honors women who have made a contribution to the country in a variety of fields. Ride’s quarter features her likeness, with Earth in the background.

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Did You Know?

Sally Ride was a serious tennis player in college.

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