History of Sally Ride in Timeline

Sally Ride was an American astronaut and physicist who became the first American woman in space in 1983. Joining NASA in 1978, her historic flight made her a symbol of progress and inspired countless individuals. She was also the youngest American astronaut to fly in space. Beyond her space missions, Ride dedicated herself to promoting science education, particularly for young girls. Her career encompassed scientific research and a commitment to fostering the next generation of scientists and explorers.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Legacy & Impact

May 26, 1951: Sally Ride's birth

On May 26, 1951, Sally Kristen Ride was born in Los Angeles, California.

Others born on this day/year

1960: Family trip to Europe

In 1960, when she was nine years old, Sally Ride's family spent a year traveling in Europe, where she first played tennis in Spain.

1963: Ranked in Southern California tennis

By 1963, Ride was ranked number 20 in Southern California for girls aged 12 and under in tennis.

1963: Valentina Tereshkova in space

In 1963, Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman in space.

June 1968: Graduation from Westlake School for Girls

In June 1968, Sally Ride graduated from Westlake School for Girls.

September 18, 1968: Started classes at Swarthmore College

On September 18, 1968, Sally Ride began classes at Swarthmore College on a full scholarship.

May 1969: Eastern Intercollegiate Women's Singles Champion

In May 1969, Sally Ride defended her title as the Eastern Intercollegiate Women's Singles champion.

January 1970: Returned to California

In January 1970, after three semesters, Sally Ride returned to California from Swarthmore College, aiming to become a professional tennis player.

1971: Counselor at TennisAmerica camp

In 1971, Sally Ride was a counselor at Dennis Van der Meer's TennisAmerica summer camp at Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

August 1972: Played doubles with Dennis Van der Meer against Billie Jean King

In August 1972, Sally Ride played in a doubles match with Dennis Van der Meer against Billie Jean King and Dick Peters.

1973: Bachelor's degrees from Stanford

In 1973, Sally Ride earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physics and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature from Stanford University.

1973: Graduated from Stanford

In 1973, Sally Ride graduated from Stanford University with a Bachelor of Science degree in physics and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature.

1973: Watched Billie Jean King's Battle of the Sexes victory

In 1973, Sally Ride watched Billie Jean King win the Battle of the Sexes match against Bobby Riggs.

1975: Relationship with Molly Tyson ended

In 1975, Molly Tyson ended her relationship with Sally Ride, and Ride moved in with Bill Colson.

1975: Master of Science degree

In 1975, Ride obtained a Master of Science degree in physics.

January 1977: Saw NASA astronaut recruitment article

In January 1977, Sally Ride saw an article about NASA recruiting women for the Space Shuttle program in The Stanford Daily.

June 30, 1977: NASA application deadline

By the June 30, 1977, deadline, NASA had received 8,079 applications, including Sally Ride's.

January 16, 1978: Selected as NASA astronaut

On January 16, 1978, Sally Ride was selected as part of NASA Astronaut Group 8.

1978: Received Ph.D.

In 1978, Ride received a Doctor of Philosophy in physics from Stanford University.

1978: Doctor of Philosophy

In 1978, Sally Ride earned a Doctor of Philosophy in physics from Stanford University.

January 1979: Split up with Bill Colson

In January 1979, Ride and Colson split up.

August 31, 1979: Officially became an astronaut

On August 31, 1979, NASA announced that the astronaut candidates had completed their training and evaluation, and were now officially astronauts.

1979: Completed NASA training

In 1979, Sally Ride completed her training with NASA, becoming a ground-based capsule communicator.

1980: Fisher married

In 1980, Anna Fisher's husband Bill Fisher was selected with NASA Astronaut Group 9.

1981: Began dating Steven Hawley

In 1981, Sally Ride began dating Steven Hawley.

April 1982: Selection announced for Space Shuttle mission

In April 1982, NASA officially announced Sally Ride's selection for the seventh Space Shuttle mission.

July 26, 1982: Married Steven Hawley

On July 26, 1982, Sally Ride married Steven Hawley in Salina, Kansas.

1982: Svetlana Savitskaya in space

In 1982, Svetlana Savitskaya became the second woman in space.

May 24, 1983: Pre-launch press conference

On May 24, 1983, NASA hosted a pre-launch press conference where Sally Ride faced intrusive questions about being a woman in space.

June 1983: First space flight

In June 1983, Sally Ride flew in space on the Space Shuttle Challenger on the STS-7 mission, deploying two communications satellites and the first Shuttle pallet satellite.

June 18, 1983: Space Shuttle Challenger launch

On June 18, 1983, the Space Shuttle Challenger lifted off from Kennedy Space Center, making Sally Ride the first American woman in space.

September 1983: Meeting with Svetlana Savitskaya

In September 1983, Sally Ride met with Svetlana Savitskaya, the second woman in space, in Budapest. The two astronauts established a quick bond and conversed for six hours, exchanging gifts and autographs.

1983: First American woman in space

In 1983, Sally Ride became the first American woman to fly in space.

July 1984: Savitskaya's Second Spaceflight

In July 1984, Svetlana Savitskaya became the first woman to perform two spaceflights and an EVA on Soyuz T-12.

October 5, 1984: Launch of STS-41-G

On October 5, 1984, the Challenger launched from the KSC on STS-41-G. Ride, now a veteran astronaut, moved about freely in orbit, while the crew deployed a satellite, conducted Earth observations, and performed experiments.

October 13, 1984: Landing of STS-41-G

On October 13, 1984, the Challenger landed back at the KSC, completing 132 orbits in 197.5 hours. During the mission, Ride carried a scarf worn by Amelia Earhart. By this time, Ride had spent over 343 hours in space over her two flights.

1984: Second space flight

In 1984, Ride made her second space flight on the STS-41-G mission aboard the Challenger.

1984: Samuel S. Beard Award

In 1984, Sally Ride received the Samuel S. Beard Award for Greatest Public Service by an Individual 35 Years or Under, an award given out annually by Jefferson Awards.

1985: Affair with Tam O'Shaughnessy

In 1985, Ride began an affair with Tam O'Shaughnessy. The two knew each other from the junior tennis circuit, and from when Ride was at Stanford.

January 7, 1986: Recommendation for Journalist in Space Project

On January 7, 1986, Ride provided a glowing reference for Lynn Sherr for NASA's Journalist in Space Project.

January 1986: Hawley's Second Spaceflight

In January 1986, Ride still performed her astronaut spouse duties for Hawley when he flew in space for the second time on STS-61-C.

June 6, 1986: Rogers Commission Report

On June 6, 1986, the Rogers Commission, on which Ride served, submitted its report on the Challenger disaster.

July 15, 1986: STS-61-I Mission Target Date

STS-61-I was scheduled to be flown no later than July 15, 1986, and was to deploy the Intelsat VI-1 and INSAT 1-C communications satellites and carry the Materials Science Lab-4.

July 1986: Scheduled Flight of STS-61-M

In July 1986, Ride was scheduled to fly on STS-61-M, a mission to deploy a Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TRDS).

October 1986: Publication of "To Space and Back"

In October 1986, Ride published a children's book, "To Space and Back," co-written with Sue Okie.

May 1987: Departure from NASA

In May 1987, Ride announced that she was leaving NASA to take up a fellowship at Stanford University's Center for International Security and Arms Control.

August 15, 1987: Fellowship at Stanford University

On August 15, 1987, Ride commenced a two-year fellowship at the Stanford University Center for International Security and Arms Control (CISAC).

1987: Left NASA

In 1987, Sally Ride left NASA.

July 1, 1989: Professor at UC San Diego

On July 1, 1989, Ride became a professor of physics at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), and director of the California Space Institute (Cal Space).

1992: Ride's Will

In 1992, Ride ensured that O'Shaughnessy would inherit her estate when she drew up her will.

1996: End of Directorship at Cal Space

Ride remained director of Cal Space until 1996.

September 1999: President of Space.com

From September 1999, Ride was the president of the space news website, Space.com.

July 2000: End of Presidency at Space.com

In July 2000, Ride's tenure as the president of the space news website Space.com ended.

2003: Columbia Accident Investigation Board

In 2003, Ride served on the Columbia Accident Investigation Board.

December 6, 2006: Induction into the California Hall of Fame

On December 6, 2006, Ride was inducted into the California Hall of Fame.

2007: Board of National Math and Science Initiative

In 2007, Sally Ride served on the board of the National Math and Science Initiative.

2007: Retirement from UCSD

Ride retired from UCSD in 2007 and became a professor emeritus.

2008: Endorsement of Barack Obama

In 2008, Ride endorsed Barack Obama for president.

May 7, 2009: Review of United States Human Space Flight Plans Committee

On May 7, 2009, Sally Ride was a member of the Review of United States Human Space Flight Plans Committee.

March 10, 2011: Speech at National Science Teachers Association Conference

On March 10, 2011, Ride delivered a speech at the National Science Teachers Association Conference in San Francisco.

August 15, 2011: Domestic Partnership with Tam O'Shaughnessy

On August 15, 2011, Ride and O'Shaughnessy registered their domestic partnership.

July 23, 2012: Sally Ride's death

On July 23, 2012, Sally Ride died.

December 2012: General James E. Hill Lifetime Space Achievement Award

Also in December 2012, Ride posthumously received the Space Foundation's General James E. Hill Lifetime Space Achievement Award.

December 17, 2012: GRAIL probes crash on lunar mountain

On December 17, 2012, the two GRAIL probes, Ebb and Flow, were directed to complete their mission by crashing on an unnamed lunar mountain near the crater Goldschmidt.

2012: Posthumous Revelation of O-Ring Information

After her death in 2012, it was revealed that Ride had provided key information about O-rings to the Rogers Commission, which eventually led to identifying the cause of the Challenger explosion.

2012: Death from pancreatic cancer

In 2012, Sally Ride died of pancreatic cancer.

April 2013: Navy Announces Research Ship Named After Ride

In April 2013, the United States Navy announced that a research ship would be named in honor of Ride.

May 20, 2013: National Tribute to Sally Ride

On May 20, 2013, a "National Tribute to Sally Ride" was held at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

July 2013: Flying Magazine Honor

In July 2013, Flying magazine ranked Ride at number 50 on their list of the "51 Heroes of Aviation".

November 20, 2013: Presidential Medal of Freedom Awarded

On November 20, 2013, President Barack Obama announced that Ride would posthumously receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States. The medal was presented to O'Shaughnessy in a ceremony at the White House.

August 9, 2014: Christening of RV Sally Ride

On August 9, 2014, the RV Sally Ride (AGOR-28) was christened by O'Shaughnessy.

2014: Induction into the Legacy Walk

In 2014, Sally Ride was inducted into the Legacy Walk, a public display in Chicago that celebrates LGBT history and people.

2015: Sally Ride Science Moved to UCSD

In 2015, Sally Ride Science moved to the University of California, San Diego.

2015: Google Doodle Honoring Sally Ride

In 2015, Sally Ride was honored with a Google Doodle on what would have been her 64th birthday.

2016: Delivery of RV Sally Ride

In 2016, The RV Sally Ride (AGOR-28) was delivered to Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

2017: Reuse of Google Doodle on International Women's Day

The Google Doodle honoring Sally Ride was reused on International Women's Day in 2017.

2018: U.S. Postal Service Stamp Honoring Sally Ride

In 2018, the U.S. Postal Service issued a first-class postage stamp honoring Sally Ride.

March 2019: USWNT Honors Sally Ride

For their first match of March 2019, the women of the United States women's national soccer team each wore a jersey with the name of a woman they were honoring on the back; Tierna Davidson chose the name of Sally Ride.

2019: Sally Ride House at Stanford University

In 2019, Stanford University's Serra House, located in Lucie Stern Hall, was renamed the Sally Ride House.

March 2022: Appearance on American Women Quarters Series

In March 2022, Sally Ride appeared as one of the first two honorees of the American Women quarters series, becoming the first known LGBT person to appear on U.S. currency.

April 2022: Launch of Satellite Named After Ride

On April 1, 2022, a satellite named after Ride (ÑuSat 27 or "Sally", COSPAR 2022-033R) was launched into space as part of the Satellogic Aleph-1 constellation.