Sally Ride
Dr. Sally Ride became the first American woman to fly in space on June 18, 1983,
Ride joined NASA in 1978, one of the first six women to be selected by NASA as astronauts. She was named a mission specialist for Space Shuttle Challenger's STS-7 mission in 1983 and flew on a second mission (STS-41G) in 1984.
After leaving NASA, Sally Ride became a physics professor and launched a variety of business ventures that would inspire the next generation of astronauts and scientists.
Early Life
Growing up in California, Ride's parents gave this telescope to her and her sister, Karen "Bear" Ride, when they were children. She would set up the telescope on her family's front lawn. She reportedly used the telescope more often than the microscope her parents gave her.
As a teenager she took up tennis and within a few years was ranked 18th nationally. Ride took her first tennis lesson when she was nine years old. She entered the private Westlake School for Girls in Los Angeles in 1965 on a partial tennis scholarship.
In 1968, Ride enrolled at Swarthmore College as a physics major, but she dropped out after three semesters to work on her tennis game full time.
In 1970, Ride entered Stanford University, as a double major in physics and English literature. Ride continued at Stanford for a PhD in physics, where her research focused on the absorption of X-rays by interstellar gas.
The First Women Astronaut Candidates
At Stanford, Ride noticed an announcement that NASA was looking for young scientists to serve as mission specialists, and she immediately applied.
She passed NASA's preliminary process and became one of the 208 finalists. Ride flew to Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX for physical fitness tests, psychiatric evaluation, and personal interviews.
Three months later, Ride became one of the first six women selected as astronaut candidates. She was a part of Astronaut Group 8, formed in 1978. Group 8 was the first to include women and astronauts of color. It was known as "the Class of 1978" or "the 35 new guys" (TFNG for short).
While learning to use the new space shuttle remote manipulator arm, Ride supported missions from Earth as backup orbiter Capsule Communicator (CAPCOM) for STS-2 and prime orbiter CAPCOM for STS-3.
Astronaut Training
As a scientist astronaut rather than a pilot, Ride trained for flight in the backseat of a Northrop T-38 training jet, learning navigation and communication procedures. She so enjoyed the experience of flying that she took private lessons and earned her pilot license.
Like the rest of her peers, Ride had to learn the mechanics of how to operate the newly created Space Shuttle fleet. Her papers contain the shuttle training materials Ride used, along with her own personal notes.
Ride trained extensively on the Canadarm, a large artificial arm used to lift payloads into orbit and retrieve them.
While learning to use the new space shuttle remote manipulator arm, Ride supported missions from Earth as backup orbiter Capsule Communicator (CAPCOM) for STS-2 and prime orbiter CAPCOM for STS-3.
First American Woman in Space
In 1983, Sally Ride became the first American woman to fly in space as part of STS-7 on the Space Shuttle Challenger. She flew on a second mission, STS-41G, in 1984.
Investigating Tragedy and Planning for the Future
In 1986, Ride was appointed to the Rogers Commission to investigate the causes and recommend remedies after Challenger broke apart during its launch
Investigating the Columbia Tragedy
She similarly served on a commission to investigate the loss of the Columbia crew in 2003. Ride was the only astronaut to serve on these investigative bodies and the only person to serve on both.
Strategic Planning for the Future
She also led the task force that produced a visionary strategic planning report in 1987 titled, “NASA Leadership and America’s Future in Space,” but known popularly as the Ride Report. That year Ride was given the NASA Outstanding Leadership medal.
After Leaving NASA, Ride Continued to Make an Impact
After she retired from NASA, Sally Ride utilized her status to launch a variety of business ventures that would inspire the next generation of potential engineers and scientists, which included the website Space.com and the education organization Sally Ride Science.
Curating Ride's Life
Tam O’Shaughnessy was both a partner in creating Sally Ride Science and Ride's life partner. Honoring Ride's wishes to avoid labels, O'Shaughnessy only revealed their relationship upon Ride's 2012 death.
O’Shaughnessy generously offered Museum curators Valerie Neal and Margaret Weitekamp and archivist Patti Williams access to the papers and possessions of the first American woman in space for the Smithsonian collection.
What stories, objects, and documents trace the full arc of Sally Ride’s life and represent key moments of her achievements? Hear from this group as they discuss the selected objects and papers that signify Sally Ride the public figure and private person, and how Sally Ride’s story intersects with social and cultural themes of her era.
Surprising Objects That Belonged to Sally Ride
Sally’s Night
Every June, celebrate Sally's Night to explore the wonder of our universe and shine the light on women in STEM. Attend in person events, use the Sally's Night Celebration Guide, full of activities for the whole family, to join the celebration from wherever you are, and share on social media how you #ShineLikeSally.