The First American Woman Traveled To Space 32 Years Ago Today [Images Inc..]

 

On June 18, 1983, Sally Ride became the first American woman to travel to space, traveling on the space shuttle Challenger. Ride’s historic space flight would go on to inspire generations of female astronauts, and she would go on to play an important role in NASA’s space shuttle program.

Here is a look at the life and accomplishments of Sally Ride.

 

 

Early Life And Bound For Space

Ride was born in Los Angeles, California, and developed an interest in science in high school. She received a bachelor’s in English and physics from Stanford, and later completed a master’s and Ph.D. in physics. Ride was one of 8,000 people who answered an advertisement in the Stanford student newspaper seeking applicants for the space program, and in 1978 she was chosen to join NASA.

Training For Launch

During her career, Ride served as the ground-based capsule communicator for the second and third space shuttle flights, and worked on robotics for the mission. Before her first space flight, she was subject to media attention due to her gender, with reporters asking whether her reproductive organs would be affected, or whether she would weep when things go wrong. Ride insisted that she saw herself in only one way, however—as an astronaut.