Sally Ride
Sally Ride was the first American woman in space and co-founded Sally Ride Science to inspire young people in STEM fields.
Astronaut
May 26, 1951
Gemini
July 23, 2012
61
Encino, California
Sally Ride, a trailblazing astronaut, became the first American woman to journey into space on June 18, 1983, aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger during mission STS-7. She operated the robotic arm to deploy satellites and embarked on another space shuttle flight in 1984. Ride was passionate about inspiring young people, particularly girls, to pursue STEM careers. To further this cause, she co-founded Sally Ride Science, a company committed to promoting science literacy. Her remarkable legacy includes being inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame, as well as receiving the Jefferson Award for Public Service and the von Braun Award for Excellence in Space Leadership.