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    • Sally Ride

    Sally Ride

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    Dr. Sally Ride (May 26, 1951 – July 23, 2012), a 32-year-old physicist and astronaut, became the first American woman in space on June 18, 1983, when she flew a six-day mission aboard the space shuttle Challenger. To this day, she also holds the title of youngest American astronaut in space. Her illustrious career was struck short when she died of pancreatic cancer at 61.

    		Sally Ride Resource Handout for Classroom or Homeschool: Just $2.00

    Harvard Business Review: Sally Ride5 stars

    Dr. Ride died just weeks after her interview with Harvard Business Review, which you can read or listen to here. "I never went into physics or the astronaut corps to become a role model. But after my first flight, it became clear to me that I was one. And I began to understand the importance of that to people. Young girls need to see role models in whatever careers they may choose, just so they can picture themselves doing those jobs someday. You can't be what you can't see."



    NASA History: Sally Ride and Valentina Tereshkova5 stars

    On June 16, 1963, Russian cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman in space when she piloted Vostok 6, orbiting the earth 48 times during her three days in space. Americans didn't send a woman into space until 20 years later. This NASA history lesson tells the story of two pioneers, Tereshkova and Ride. "The legacies of their historic flights remind us of the hard work, passion and dedication of the women who have worked on the ground and in space to pave the way for 55 more women (and counting) who have since journeyed into space."

    NASA: Who was Sally Ride?5 stars

    "Sally Ride applied to be an astronaut in 1977. It was the first time that women were invited to apply to the astronaut program. Ride was a college student and saw an advertisement that NASA was looking for women astronauts. She was one of six women selected to the astronaut corps in 1978." Below this feature, you'll find links to a fantastic photo gallery, and a more extensive biography.

    Sally Ride EarthKAM5 stars

    Initiated by Dr. Ride, the Sally Ride EarthKAM (Earth Knowledge Acquired by Middle school students) is a NASA educational project that gives middle school students the opportunity to interact with a camera on board the International Space Station. When the camera is active (it usually runs about four times a year) classroom students can request images of specific places on Earth.

    Washington Post: Sally Ride5 stars

    "At the time of her flight in 1983, the focus of news coverage was almost entirely on Ride's gender and what it could mean for women in science. Nevermind that the flight produced a number of firsts: Ride was the youngest American to travel to space; the flight marked the first re-flight of an astronaut on the space shuttle (Robert L. Crippen) and Challenger was the first shuttle to have a planned end of mission landing." Upon Dr. Ride's death in 2012, Washington Post remembered her with this article that includes five reprints "from the Washington Post's coverage of Ride's historic voyage, and reactions at the time."

    		Sally Ride Resource Handout for Classroom or Homeschool: Just $2.00



    Honorable Mentions

    The following links are either new discoveries or sites that didn't make it into my newspaper column because of space constraints. Enjoy!

    Astronaut Sally Ride and the Burden of Being The First

    Biography.com: Sally Ride

    Sally Ride for Kids

    Sally Ride Science


    Cite This Page

    Feldman, Barbara. "Sally Ride." Surfnetkids. Feldman Publishing. 16 Jun. 2015. Web. 30 Jan. 2025. <https://www.surfnetkids.com/resources/sally-ride/ >.


    About This Page

    By . Originally published June 16, 2015. Last modified June 16, 2015.

    Filed Under: Biographies, History, Holidays

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