Sally Ride
First American Women in space
Overview
On June 18, 1983 Sally Ride became the first American women in space. She was on a space shuttle mission to work the robotic arm. She used the robotic arm to help put satellites into space. She flew on the space shuttle again in 1984.
Biography
Sally Ride was born May 26, 1951. She lived in California. After Sally graduated high school she went to Stanford University, which is in California. Sally earned her degree in physics (which is a type of science). NASA started looking for women astronauts in 1977. Sally was one of six women picked. She originally did not want to be an astronaut, she actually wanted to be a professional tennis player. June 18, 1983 Sally became the first American women in space. She was the mission specialist on this mission. The mission specialist uses the robotic arm, goes on spacewalks, and does science experiments. June 24, 1983 her shuttle landed back on earth. Sally died July 23, 2012 due to pancreatic cancer and this was not caused by her mission in space.
Significance
The main goal of Sally Ride's first mission was to deploy two satellites in space. They used those satellites for experiments, such as studying affects on space and the social behavior of an ant colony with no gravity. This goal was accomplished. Sally had her own goal of closing the gender gap in the astronaut field. This goal of hers was accomplished. None of the astronauts were killed while serving this mission.