Sally Ride

First American Woman in Space

(1951 - Present)

Sally Ride was born in California and learned to play tennis very well.

Sally dropped out of college to become a tennis pro, but decided it was not right for her.

Sally went back to college and studied astrophysics.

When she was 27 years old, Sally joined NASA to become an astronaut

Sally Ride flew in outer space in 1983 and 1984 on the space shuttle, Challenger.

After the Challenger blew up in 1986, Sally helped to study what went wrong.

Sally Ride retired from NASA in 1987 and began to teach science in college.

Sally started Internet projects to help children learn more about science and outer space.

She wrote five books for children about space science.

Sally organized the "Sally Ride Clubs" for girls to learn science and math.

Children's Books Written by Sally Ride

"Exploring Our Solar System" by Sally Ride and Tam O'Shaughnessy

"The Mystery of Mars" by Sally Ride and Tam O'Shaughnessy

"To Space and Back" by Sally Ride and Susan Okie

"The Third Planet: Exploring the Earth From Space" by Sally Ride and Tam O'Shaughnessy

"Voyager: An Adventure to the Edge of the Solar System" by Sally Ride and Tam O'Shaughnessy

Netlinks for Sally Ride