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Scientist Sally Ride

Sally Ride was born on May 26 1951 in Enrico, California. She was best known for the
first American woman in space. Her father, Dale Burdell Ride, was a political science professor
while her mother, Carol Joyce, volunteered as a counselor at a prison for women. Sally Ride
also had a sister named Karen Ride who is a Presbyterian minister.
When she was growing up, Sally was a bright student who loved science and math. She
also enjoyed playing tennis and became one of the top ranked tennis players in the country.
When she first graduated high school, she wanted to become a professional tennis player.
However, she realized a life playing table tennis does not suit her. She then went to Stanford
University as a junior.
At Stanford University, she earned two degrees in physics and English. She eventually
earned her Master of Science degree and her Doctorate in Physics. At that period, she was
researching on the interaction of X-rays with the interstellar medium.
In 1977, there was a newspaper ad saying that National Aeronautics and Space
Administrations (NASA) was looking for astronauts.
Sally was one of the 8000 people who responded to the advertisement and was chosen
in 1978. She began her career as capsule communicator (Cap corn) for the second and third
space shuttle flights (STS-2 and STS-3). She also created the development of the space
shuttles robotic arm.

Sally ride the first woman in space

In 1979, when Sally Ride was 32, she was finally able to experience space travelling. She was
chosen to be on the NASAs 7th shuttle mission and was the mission specialist on the
Challenger. On June 1983, they were launched and she made history, being the first woman
who went to space. The flight lasted for 147 hours and was back on 24 June.
In 5 October 1984, she went to space again on the 13th Space Shuttle flight mission
STS 41-G and made history again for being the first woman to go back to space. There were
seven crew members and this time, it lasted for 197 hours.
Both missions were success. However, her third mission was cut due to the 1986
challenger disaster. The Space Shuttle Challenger exploded during take-off and the seven
members were killed. The shuttle program became inoperative for 32 months after the event.

She was ordered to President Ronald Reagan's commission to check and investigate on the
accident.

AFTER NASA

In 1987, she left her position but did not abandon her passion for science and space. Sally
worked at Stanford University, the California Space Institute, and even begun her own company
called Sally Ride Science.
Unfortunately, she died on July 23, 2012, at the age of 61 after being diagnosed with pancreatic
cancer.

Sally Ride Personal Life

Sally Ride was extremely private about her personal life. She was married with NASA
astronaut Steven Hawley in 1982 but they divorced in 1987.
She was drafted into the National Women's Hall of Fame and the Astronaut Hall of
Fame.
Sally wrote a number of science books for children.
There are two elementary schools in the United States that is named after Sally Ride.

WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM SALLY RIDE

Pursue your dreams

Never give up
Perseverance

Although it was unfortunate that she was diagnosed with cancer, we feel that Sally Ride is a
very smart scientist and work towards her goals and never stop giving up. She was a brave
woman and actually inspired many young girls to dream big and pursue their dreams.

SALLY RIDER LINKS

https://www.google.com.sg/url?
sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CBwQFjAA&ur
l=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki
%2FSally_Ride&ei=iFrfVJKaGcXhuQTMmYLACw&usg=AFQjCNGAvGCqss3TJhlu
NWaO8ebn-zAnmQ&bvm=bv.85970519,d.c2E

http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/k-4/stories/who-was-sally-ridek4.html#.VN9bvdKUdjc

https://www.google.com.sg/url?
sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCoQFjAD&url
=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ducksters.com%2Fbiography%2Fwomen_leaders
%2Fsally_ride.php&ei=5lrfVOrKD8OJuAToh4K4BA&usg=AFQjCNH0H0snFpiemTK
RVTDXu9HUkg46ng

http://www.google.com.sg/url?url=http://www.technobuffalo.com/2012/07/24/8facts-about-sallyride/&rct=j&frm=1&q=&esrc=s&sa=U&ei=6yLrVM3oCcqgugSS04CwDg&ved=0CDg
QFjAJ&sig2=vRsUSVwg5Wan4la3nhVhA&usg=AFQjCNEhi_uO5nl2oPdqr57QWRtefO6SOA