#WomenOnUSPaper$

Sally Ride, astronaut and physicist became the first American woman in space in 1983, and was the youngest American astronaut to travel in space at the age of 32. Ride was selected as an astronaut in 1978 as part of NASA Astronaut Group, the first to admit women, one of 35 selected from 8000 applicants. She spent more than 343 hours in space and later named to the Rogers Commission investigating Shuttle accidents (Challenger and Columbia), was assigned to NASA headquarters and led NASA’s first strategic planning effort, authored the report “NASA Leadership and America’s Future in Space” and founded NASA’s Office of Exploration. #WomenOnUSPaper$