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Sally Ride in 1984-by NASA; retouched by Adam Cuerden-

Top 10 Facts about Sally Ride

Sally Kristen Ride, an American astronaut, and physicist was born on May 26, 1951, and passed away on July 23, 2012. She was born in Los Angeles, joined NASA in 1978, and, became the first American woman and third woman to fly in space in 1983 after cosmonauts Valentina Tereshkova in 1963 and Svetlana Savitskaya in 1982. She was the youngest American astronaut to make a space flight at 32 years old. Ride studied physics at Stanford University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in the subject and a Bachelor of Arts in English literature in 1973. She then went on to earn a Master of Science in the subject in 1975 and a Doctor of Philosophy in the subject in 1978 for work on the interaction of X-rays with the interstellar medium.

She is the first astronaut known to have been LGBT, having been married to astronaut Steven Hawley throughout her time in space and having a secret, protracted relationship with a former WTA player named Tam O’Shaughnessy. Pancreatic cancer claimed her life on July 23, 2012. Here are some facts about Sally Ride.

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1. Sally’s early interests included athletics 

Sally was nine years old when her family spent a year traveling throughout Europe in 1960. Her debut tennis match was in Spain. She was coached by Alice Marble, a former world number one tennis player when she was ten years old. She loved sports, but tennis was her favorite. Ride ranked 20th in popularity among girls 12 and younger in Southern California in 1963. She first attended Birmingham High School before transferring to Westlake High School on a partial athletic scholarship since she was an excellent tennis player. Sally joined Stanford University after finishing high school and briefly played tennis professionally.

2. She earned a dual degree in physics and English from Stanford University

Stanford University March 2012 21-by Tomwsulcer-

Sally broke new ground in a variety of areas, not the least of which were her academic accomplishments. She earned a dual degree in physics and English from Stanford University, a unique combination of fields that testifies to her wide range of interests and abilities. Her Stanford University bachelor’s degree in both physics and English was evidence of her diligence and commitment to her studies. Later, in 1975, she received a Master of Science in physics, and in 1978, a Doctor of Philosophy. Her research focused on free-electron lasers and astrophysics.

3. She is well renowned for being the first American woman to visit space

Sally began working for NASA as a capsule communicator during the second and third shuttle missions. Her duties as a mission specialist included controlling the robotic arm of the Challenger shuttle, putting a satellite in orbit, and carrying out different science experiments. She was chosen as a mission specialist for the STS-7 space shuttle mission in 1983. She became the third woman in history to fly in space on June 18, 1983, after Russian cosmonauts Valentina Tereshkova and Svetlana Savitskaya in 1962 and 1983, respectively however she was the first American. Although there had been younger cosmonauts, she also made history by becoming the youngest American astronaut in orbit.

4. She participated in STS-7 and STS-41-G, two human spaceflight missions

Sally Ride, America’s first woman astronaut communicates with ground controllers from the flight deck – NARA – 541940-by Unknown author-

Ride made her first trip into space at the age of 32 while serving as a mission specialist on STS-7, NASA’s seventh shuttle mission, aboard the space shuttle Challenger making the first American woman to visit space. When she launched on another Challenger mission, STS-41-G, on October 5, 1984, she also made history by becoming the first American woman to visit space a second time. Savitskaya was the first woman to do both when she traveled in space on Soyuz T-12 in July 1984. NASA had intended to send Sally Ride back for a third mission, STS-61-M, but the Challenger shuttle catastrophe prevented that from happening.

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5. She co-founded Sally Ride Science, a company devoted to science communication

Sally-ride-science-pin-air-and-space-by National Air and Space Museum-

Ride served as president of Space.com, a corporation that compiled news about science and space on its website, from September 1999 until July 2000. She later rose to the position of president and CEO of Sally Ride Science, which she and O’Shaughnessy formed. With an emphasis on female students, Sally Ride Science developed engaging science activities and publications for upper elementary and middle school students. Six books on space for children were co-written by Ride and O’Shaughnessy with the intention of enticing kids to pursue science.

6. She was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame, the Astronaut Hall of Fame, and the Women Hall of Fame

During her lifetime and later, Ride won a lot of accolades. She won the Theodore Roosevelt Award from the NCAA, the von Braun Award from the National Space Society, and the Lindbergh Eagle from the Charles A. Lindbergh Fund. She received two NASA Space Flight Medals and was inducted into both the National Women’s Hall of Fame and the Astronaut Hall of Fame. On December 6, 2006, Ride was inducted into the California Hall of Fame at the California Museum for History, Women, and the Arts by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and First Lady Maria Shriver. She was admitted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in Dayton, Ohio, the following year.

7. She was honored with the naming of two elementary schools

Sally Ride Elementary School in The Woodlands, Texas, and Sally Ride Elementary School in Germantown, Maryland are among the elementary schools in the US that bear her name.

8. She is the first openly gay astronaut that is known

Lgbt Flag by Alexander Grey-

Tam O’Shaughnessy and Ride started dating in 1985. The junior tennis circuit and Ride’s time at Stanford were when the two first became acquainted. The 27-year relationship with O’Shaughnessy was made public for the first time in Ride’s obituary following her passing. Sally was now the first gay astronaut. Bear, Ride’s sister, who said Ride opted to keep her personal life private, including her illness and treatments, verified the relationship.

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9. She died of pancreatic cancer

On March 10, 2011, O’Shaughnessy and a friend discovered Ride was unwell. A medical ultrasound revealed a golf ball-sized tumor in her abdomen when she saw a doctor the next day. A CT scan at UCSD later found pancreatic cancer. To shrink the tumor, she underwent radiation therapy and chemotherapy. On October 27, medical professionals removed her gall bladder along with a portion of her pancreas, bile duct, stomach, and intestine. She passed away on July 23, 2012, at the age of 61, in her La Jolla home.

10. Sally wrote several children’s science books

Dr. Sally Ride – Flickr – NASA Goddard Photo and Video (1)-by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center from Greenbelt, MD, USA-

Sally Ride Science developed fun science activities and publications for upper elementary and middle school students, with a focus on females. Ride and O’Shaughnessy co-wrote six books for children about space, with the intention of inspiring children to study science

Sally Ride became the first American woman and, at 32, the youngest American in space when she launched aboard the space shuttle Challenger on June 18, 1983. Her historic flight made her a symbol of women’s ability to break down barriers and a hero to generations of daring young girls.