Sally Ride Makes History in 1983
On June 18, 1983, Sally Ride at 32 years old became the first American woman to go to space. Onboard the Challenger she spent six days in space and was…
SAN DIEGO, CA – FEBRUARY 7: Dr. Sally Ride, the first U.S. woman to travel into space, speaks to the media at the San Diego Aerospace Museum February 7, 2003…
(Photo by Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images)On June 18, 1983, Sally Ride at 32 years old became the first American woman to go to space.
Onboard the Challenger she spent six days in space and was the first woman to operate the shuttle’s mechanical arm.
This would not be Ride's only time in space. In October of 1984, she would spend eight days on shuttle mission STS-41G and become the first American woman to go to space twice.
After her time in space, she was on the Rogers Commission to investigate the Challenger and the Columbia disasters. Later Ride became a college professor and author.
Sally Ride passed away on July 23, 2012, seventeen months after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
We only can wonder what Sally Ride would think of the rejuvenation of the United States Space Program and the SpaceX launches.
With the Kennedy Space Center being our neighbor to the east, have you ever seen a shuttle or rocket launch in person? Share your photos with us below!
[Sources: NASA.gov, History.com]
Written by: Rachel Pitts | Pop Culture writer & child of the '80s.
