Wissenswertes

The first American woman in space, on the shuttle Challenger, June 1983.

At her first launch at Cape Canaveral, many in the crowd of 250,000 that watched the launching wore T-shirts that said, "Ride, Sally Ride" - from the lyrics of the song "Mustang Sally.".

Had a 17-month battle with pancreatic cancer.

In 2001, she started her own company to create educational programs and products known as Sally Ride Science to help inspire girls and young women to pursue their interests in science and math. Ride served as president and CEO.

She was scheduled to take a third trip, but it was canceled after the tragic Challenger accident on January 28, 1986. After the accident, Ride served on the presidential commission that investigated the space shuttle explosion.

Grew up in Los Angeles and attended Portola Middle School and Westlake School for Girls in LA (now Harvard-Westlake School) on a scholarship. In addition to being interested in science, she was a nationally ranked tennis player. Ride attended Swarthmore College for three semesters, took physics courses at UCLA, and then entered Stanford University as a junior, graduating with a bachelor's degree in English and physics. Also at Stanford, she earned a master's degree and a Ph.D. in physics, while doing research in astrophysics and free electron laser physics.

Pictured on a USA nondenominated 'forever' commemorative postage stamp issued 23 May 2018; price on day of issue was 50¢.

Inducted into the Women in Aviation International's Pioneer Hall of Fame in 2014.

Her former husband, Steve Hawley, was also an astronaut who participated in at least two Space Shuttle missions.

Inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in 1988.

Inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, 2003.

Her relationship with her partner of 27 years, Dr. Tam O'Shaughnessy, was revealed in Ride's obituary released by Sally Ride Science and confirmed by Ride's sister, as well as a Sally Ride Science spokesperson.

For her contributions to the field of science and space exploration, Ride received many honors, including the NASA Space Flight Medal and the NCAA's Theodore Roosevelt Award.

After NASA, Sally Ride became the director of the California Space Institute at the University of California, San Diego, as well as a professor of physics at the school in 1989.

Posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013 by President Barack Obama.

Inducted into the California Hall of Fame in 2006 (inaugural class).

Inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 2007.

Inducted into the International Space Hall of Fame in 1985.

Inducted into the International Air & Space Hall of Fame in 2009.

Ride endorsed Barack Obama for president in 2008.

Born at 8:11am-PDT

Brought with her a Norwegian flag into space, in tribute of her Norwegian heritage.

Ride was a member of the Review of United States Human Space Flight Plans Committee, an independent review requested by the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) on May 7, 2009.

Ride beat out 1,000 other applicants for a spot in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) astronaut program.

Inducted into the San Diego County [California] Women's Hall of Fame in 2006, in the category "Spirit of the Women's Hall of Fame".

Inducted into the International Women's Forum International Hall of Fame.