Sally Ride: Setting the Stage for Women in Space

Last week, space shuttle Discovery touched down after a historic mission to the International Space Station, a flight that not only launched the largest laboratory to date, but also the 50th female U.S. astronaut. Just eight weeks prior, astronaut Peggy Whitson returned to Earth after a six-month stay in orbit as the first female space station commander. Women have established their place in space, but it was the flight of Sally Ride 25 years ago that paved the road to the stars.

Born in Encino, CA on May 26, 1951 to Dr. & Mrs. Dale Ride, Sally Ride’s early love was tennis. After winning a tennis scholarship to Westlake School for Girls in Los Angeles, she dropped out of Swarthmore college to pursue a professional tennis career.

Picking up the Stanford University newspaper, she read about NASA’s search for astronauts & decided to apply to be an astronaut. Over 8000 people applied. 35 were accepted, including 6 women, one of whom was Sally Ride.

Read more... Sally Ride biography.