Sally Ride Biography Quotes 36 Report mistakes

Early Life and Education
Sally Kristen Ride was born on May 26, 1951, in Los Angeles, California. Her parents, Dale Ride and Carol Ride, nurtured intellectual curiosity and public service; her father taught political science, and her mother worked as a counselor and volunteer. Growing up with her younger sister, Karen "Bear" Ride, she developed a deep love of science alongside a passion for competitive tennis. After attending the Westlake School for Girls, she entered Swarthmore College, briefly left to pursue tennis more seriously, and then transferred to Stanford University. At Stanford she blended the humanities and sciences, earning a B.A. in English and a B.S. in physics in 1973, followed by an M.S. in 1975 and a Ph.D. in physics in 1978, concentrating on astrophysics. Her graduate work, mentored by faculty who encouraged rigorous research and clear communication, set the stage for a career that would combine scientific expertise with public engagement.

Joining NASA and Training
In 1977, Ride saw a NASA call for astronaut candidates and applied at a moment when the agency was recruiting women for the first time. Selected in 1978 as part of the famous astronaut Group 8, she trained alongside a pioneering cohort that included Judith Resnik, Shannon Lucid, Rhea Seddon, Anna Fisher, and Kathryn D. Sullivan. As her training progressed, she served as a capsule communicator (CAPCOM) for early Shuttle flights and helped develop the Shuttle Remote Manipulator System, the Canadarm. Her professionalism and calm under pressure made her a go-to voice in Mission Control, relaying critical information to crews and building the foundation for her own missions.

First American Woman in Space
On June 18, 1983, riding aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger on STS-7, Sally Ride became the first American woman and, at the time, the youngest American to reach space. Under commander Robert Crippen, the crew deployed communications satellites and conducted experiments using the payload bay and the Canadarm, which Ride operated. The mission showcased her technical mastery and the Shuttle's potential for scientific research and satellite operations. She returned to orbit in 1984 on STS-41-G, again on Challenger with Crippen as commander, on a flight notable for Earth-observation studies and operational demonstrations. That mission included Kathryn D. Sullivan, who performed the first spacewalk by an American woman, and international crewmates Marc Garneau and Paul Scully-Power. Across her two missions, Ride accumulated hundreds of hours in space and became a symbol of both scientific achievement and expanded opportunity.

Challenger and National Service
After the Challenger accident in 1986, Ride was appointed to the Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident, known as the Rogers Commission. Serving with figures such as Richard Feynman and Neil Armstrong, she contributed to a candid investigation of technical and organizational factors behind the tragedy. She subsequently moved to NASA Headquarters, where she led a strategic planning effort that culminated in the influential 1987 report "Leadership and America's Future in Space", often called the Ride Report. It emphasized a balanced agenda of human exploration, robotic missions, and sustained Earth science, laying groundwork for initiatives that shaped NASA's long-term direction.

Academic Career and Public Engagement
Leaving NASA in 1987, Ride returned to Stanford for policy work and then joined the University of California, San Diego, as a professor of physics. She also directed the California Space Institute, building partnerships among scientists, engineers, and educators. As a public communicator of science, she co-authored accessible books for young readers and general audiences, collaborating with journalist Susan Okie and later with educator Tam O'Shaughnessy. Believing that the pipeline into science must widen, she co-founded Sally Ride Science in 2001 with O'Shaughnessy and colleagues to create curricula, festivals, and teacher training aimed at engaging girls and underrepresented students. Her outreach emphasized rigorous content delivered with encouragement and real stories of scientists and engineers.

Personal Life
Ride married fellow astronaut Steven Hawley in 1982; the marriage ended in 1987. For many years thereafter her partner was Tam O'Shaughnessy, with whom she worked closely on education initiatives and writing. Her family remained important to her public story: her parents' support and her sister Karen's path as a minister illustrated the broad range of values, service, curiosity, empathy, that informed Ride's life choices. Colleagues frequently cited her steadiness, directness, and sense of responsibility to crew, mission, and the larger public.

Later Contributions and Advisory Roles
Even while focused on education, Ride continued to advise on national space policy. She served on committees assessing the future of human spaceflight and Earth observation programs, bringing the perspective of an astronaut-scientist attuned to both technical detail and societal benefit. Her advocacy for Earth science, under the umbrella of "Mission to Planet Earth", helped elevate environmental monitoring as a central pillar of the space program. She mentored generations of students and young professionals, often connecting them with role models such as Kathryn Sullivan and other peers from NASA's pioneering astronaut class.

Illness, Death, and Remembrance
Sally Ride died on July 23, 2012, at age 61, after a private battle with pancreatic cancer. The announcement of her death also made public her long partnership with Tam O'Shaughnessy, which expanded public understanding of LGBTQ representation in science and spaceflight. Tributes came from across the spectrum of science, education, and government. In 2013, President Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously, an honor accepted by O'Shaughnessy, recognizing Ride's pathbreaking achievements in space and her sustained commitment to education. She had previously been inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame and the National Women's Hall of Fame.

Legacy
Sally Ride's legacy spans exploration, policy, and education. As the first American woman in space, she broke a barrier and then used the platform that followed to open doors for others. Her work on the Rogers Commission and at NASA Headquarters helped redirect the agency toward safety, balance, and long-term vision. In classrooms and teacher workshops through Sally Ride Science, she translated the wonder of discovery into tools and opportunities for young people, especially girls who might not otherwise see themselves as scientists or engineers. The colleagues, friends, and family who surrounded her, astronauts like Robert Crippen and Kathryn Sullivan; investigators such as Richard Feynman and Neil Armstrong; partners in education like Tam O'Shaughnessy; and the steadfast support of her parents and sister, formed a community that both shaped and amplified her contributions. Through that network and the institutions she helped build, the example of Sally Ride continues to encourage curiosity, grit, and public-minded science.

Our collection contains 36 quotes who is written by Sally, under the main topics: Witty One-Liners - Sports - Work Ethic - One-Liners - Nature.