Up, Up and a Away

Dr. Sally Ride was the first American Female in Space. 

In 1977, NASA opened up their space program to women. Six women were selected for the Astronaut program and Sally Ride was one of them. 

On June 18, 1983, she was selected as part of the crew of the shuttle Challenger, mission STS-7, and became the first woman from the United States to enter Space.

Since then, 39 female NASA astronauts have followed her into space.

Dr. Mae Jemison made the mark as the first African American female with her 1992 Mission aboard the Endeavour.


Dr. Ellen Ochoa became the first hispanic female. Ochoa's first mission was in April of 1993 aboard the STS-56 ATLAS-2 Discovery.

In 2003, Ride was inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame. 

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These women broke through the ultimate glass ceiling by blasting through the atmosphere.  

First Class of Women Astronauts to Graduate from NASA in 1979