Dr. Sally Ride (1951-2012) needs no introduction this week. She was an American Astronaut and physicist. In 1983 she flew into orbit on the Challenger and became the first American woman in space. In 1989 she left NASA and later founded Sally Ride Science, hoping to inspire young women to follow careers in science, technology and math.  There is much more to be said about Dr. Sally Ride. To find out more about her, take a look at her BIOGRAPHY or visit www.sallyridescience.com.

Sally Ride Quotes

•  All adventures, especially into new territory, are scary.
• If girls are interested, they have the potential to go further. There are still lingering stereotypes that affect girls in middle school, and they lose interest in the subjects.
• But even in elementary school and junior high, I was very interested in space and in the space program.
• There are lots of opportunities out there for women to work in these fields, … Girls just need support, encouragement and mentoring to follow through with the sciences.
• But when I wasn’t working, I was usually at a window looking down at Earth.
• I felt very honored, and I knew that people would be watching very closely, and I felt it was very, very important that I do a good job.
• My parents didn’t have a scientific bone in their body, and their daughter was pursuing a career in astrophysics. They didn’t even know what astrophysics meant, but they supported me.

I am thankful for women like Sally Ride who teach us that we can soar and for parents who give their daughters wings.

*The above photo of Sally Ride is a NASA photo and is therefore in the public domain.