The Sally Ride Impact on American Society

Sally Ride made history in 1983 when she became the first American woman in space aboard the Challenger space shuttle. While in orbit, Ms. Ride's most important job was to command the robot manipulator system (RMS). The Challenger launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Mission STS-7 was in orbit for 6 days (147 hours), and then returned to earth to land on a lakebed runway at Edwards Air Force Base, California on June 24, 1983.

Ms. Ride flew again with Captain Crippen aboard the Challenger on the thirteenth space shuttle flight in 1983. Her next flight was an eight-day mission in 1984, again on Challenger. This time, mission duration was 197 hours and concluded with a landing at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on October 13, 1984.

Sally Ride accumulated more that 343 hours in space travel.

Sally Ride is someone talked about as an American role model particularly for many female students. As a result, many students are expand their minds and to seek careers in space exploration, and science and technology because of her.

While Ms. Ride appreciated the importance of her being a part of the Challenger crew, she reportedly did not approve of the attention placed on her just because of her gender. Not withstanding, many people are not aware that there were indeed 5 other women chosen as the first female astronauts along with Ms Ride. There were more 8,000 total applicants and 1,000 women applied for the NASA astronaut class of 1978. NASA brought aboard 35 hires, 29 men and 6 women).

Amelia Earhart became the first woman in history to make a solo transcontinental flight in 1928. Sally Ride's historic flight came 55 years after that of Ms Earhart's. By achieving these goals, they each speak to girls and women. These women, among amazing other top female achievers, each achieved major goals in fields that were traditionally reserved for men.

Even today, science and math are remain dominated by males, so the need still exist to have groups and organizations continue to support and focus on young girls in these particular disciplines. Girls fall behind boys in math and science during middle school years, discouraged more by peer pressure rather than lack of ability.

Sally Ride is still making national news in 2008 as she is reportedly on a short list of candidates to replace for the current NASA administrator. Ms Ride grew up in Los Angeles and went to Stanford University where she was a double major in physics and English.