History was made on June 18, 1983, when Sally Ride became the first American woman to travel to space. Ride served as the mission specialist on the Space Shuttle Challenger. The purpose of this mission was to launch the first data and tracking relay satellite and to conduct several scientific experiments related to radiation, weather, and weightlessness. Although the Challenger tragically experienced a catastrophic failure and exploded in 1986, the 1983 missions, including Sally Ride’s flight, were regarded as highly successful.

Sally Ride was a distinguished scientist who broke many barriers for women in space exploration. She earned four degrees, including a PhD in Physics from Stanford University. In addition to her work as a scientist, Ride was a science educator, an author, and an athlete. She dedicated her efforts to promoting STEM education in schools and advocating for increasing the number of females in the fields of science and math. Ride participated in two space missions: her first mission was aboard the Challenger in 1983, followed by a second mission on the Challenger in 1984.

Fun Facts about Sally Ride:

• Although she was the first American woman in space, two other women from different countries preceded her. Cosmonauts Valentina Tereshkova in 1963 and Svetlana Savitskaya in 1982 both traveled to space before Sally Ride.
• Sally Ride applied to be an astronaut after seeing an ad in her school newspaper. 
• She was an amazing athlete. She played tennis and softball, and she aspired to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers. 
• Not only was she the first American woman in space, but she was also the youngest person to travel to space at the age of 32!
• Sally Ride is the first acknowledged gay astronaut, though this was revealed only after her death in 2012. Her partner of 27 years, Tam O’Shaughnessy, accepted the Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded posthumously on her behalf.
• There are two elementary schools in the United States named after Sally Ride.