Research Guides: Sally Ride: Biography

Sally Ride (May 26, 1951 - July 23, 2012)

While in graduate school Ride happened, almost by accident, to read an advertisement in the campus newspaper soliciting resumes for work as "mission specialists" on future space flights. NASA had placed the ads hoping that young, talented scientists would identify themselves. They received more than ten thousand responses. Sally Ride was one of the select few chosen. In her youth she had trained for, and for a time seriously considered, a career as a professional tennis player—physical training which was to stand her in good stead during the rigors of the flight training she had to endure alongside the twenty-nine men and five other women who entered the U.S. space program as astronauts-in-training with her in 1978. Continue . . .

Source: "Ride, Sally Kirsten 1951-." American Decades, edited by Judith S. Baughman, et al., vol. 9: 1980-1989, Gale, 2001. From Gale Virtual Reference database.

Book Collection

Resources

Who Was Sally Ride? NASA article on Sally Ride.
Talking with Sally Ride and Tarn O'Shaughnessy An interview with authors and business partners Sally Ride and Tam O'Shaughnessy on global warming and their recent collaborations is presented. When asked on the vision of their company, Sally Ride Science, Ride explains that science education was part of the core beliefs of the company, with the eighth-graders as their focus to place accurate understanding on science and math. O'Shaughnessy adds that writing nonfiction science books is part of the company's strategy in reaching to children.
BACK TO SCHOOL: The Sally Ride Interview The article presents an interview with Sally Ride, American's first woman in space, regarding the importance of science education. She talks about the formation of the organization, Sally Ride Science. Ride discusses the intersection of science education and its intersection with innovation. She explains why girls are historically less likely to pursue science and engineering.
Astronaut Hall of Fame Archives from What It Takes about Sally Ride.
The life of Sally Ride, America’s first woman astronaut, in pictures PBS Hour coverage on Sally Ride.
An Interview with Sally Ride Watch an uncut interview with the late astronaut, conducted at NASA in 1984.
Sally Ride Anniversary NASA footage on Sally Ride.

From Films On Demand database:

Incorporating Ethnic and Gender Diversity Female and Minorities describe becoming astronauts and mission specialists. The Challenger crew of STS-41G included foreigners. David Leestma describes how Sally Ride, Kathy Sullivan, and Bob Crippen received all the media attention.