Sally Ride Picture Gallery

Photos of the Famous Female Astronaut

History and Culture
History & Culture View More
By
Jone Johnson Lewis
Jone Johnson Lewis
Women's History Writer
  • B.A., Mundelein College
  • M.Div., Meadville/Lombard Theological School
Jone Johnson Lewis is a women's history writer who has been involved with the women's movement since the late 1960s. She is a former faculty member of the Humanist Institute.
Learn about our Editorial Process
Updated on February 25, 2019

Sally Ride, the first woman American woman in space, is featured in this photo gallery showing her in her groundbreaking role as a female astronaut.

01
of 34

Sally Ride

Official NASA Portrait of Sally Ride NASA official portrait of female astronaut Sally Ride.
Courtesy NASA Johnson Space Center (NASA-JSC)

Sally Ride was the first American woman in space. This 1984 portrait is the official NASA portrait of Sally Ride. (07/10/1984)

02
of 34

Sally Ride

A photograph of astronaut Sally Ride as a candidate for the astronaut program, 1979.
Courtesy NASA Glenn Research Center (NASA-GRC)

Photograph of Sally Ride, astronaut candidate, in 1979. (04/24/1979)

03
of 34

Sally Ride

Astronaut Sally Ride at the CapCom console during STS-2 simulation
Courtesy of NASA Johnson Space Center (NASA-JSC)

Photograph of Sally Ride, first American woman in space, at the CapCom console during STS-2 simulation. (07/10/1981)

04
of 34

Sally Ride

Astronauts Sally Ride and Terry Hart prepare for RMS training for STS-2, 1981.
Courtesy NASA Johnson Space Center (NASA-JSC)

Astronauts Sally Ride and Terry Hart prepare for remote manipulator system (RMS) training for STS-2 in bldg 9A. (07/17/1981)

05
of 34

Sally Ride

Sally Ride After STS-3 Mission Specialist/Astronaut Sally Ride goes over post-flight data STS-3
Courtesy NASA Johnson Space Center (NASA-JSC)

Mission Specialist/Astronaut Sally K. Ride goes over post-flight data from STS-3 during a crew debriefing session at JSC.

06
of 34

Sally Ride

Sally Ride and Frederick Hauck go over procedures with the RMS.
Sally Ride and Frederick Hauck go over RMS operation procedures Sally Ride and Frederick Hauck go over procedures with the RMS. Courtesy NASA Johnson Space Center (NASA-JSC)

Two members of the STS-7 crew go over procedures in operating the remote manipulator system (RMS) in the JSC manipulator development facility (MDF). Dr. Sally K. Ride is one of the flight's mission specialists.

Frederick H. Hauck is pilot for the crew. The station pictured is located on the aft flight deck of the actual spacecraft and the windows allow direct view of the long cargo bay. The MDF is locate in the Shuttle mockup and integration laboratory.

07
of 34

Sally Ride

Sally Ride among the crew of STS-7, in an official crew portrait.
Sally Ride and the Crew of STS-7 - Official Portrait Sally Ride among the crew of STS-7, in an official crew portrait. Courtesy NASA Johnson Space Center (NASA-JSC)

Crew members include bottom row left to right: Astronauts Sally K. Ride, mission specialist; Robert L. Crippen, crew commander; and Frederick H. Hauch, pilot. Standing from left to right: Mission specialists John M. Fabian and Norman E. Thagard. Behind them is a photo of the shuttle about to land.

08
of 34

Sally Ride

Astronaut Sally K. Ride responds to interview question - 05.25.1983
Sally Ride at Interview, 1983 Astronaut Sally K. Ride, mission specialist for STS-7, responds to a question from an interviewer during a taping session for ABC's Night Line. Dr. Ride is in the shuttle mockup and integration laboratory. Courtesy NASA Johnson Space Center (NASA-JSC)

Astronaut Sally K. Ride, mission specialist for STS-7, responds to a question from an interviewer during a taping session for ABC's Night Line.

09
of 34

Sally Ride

STS-7 crew training in the SMS in seats they will occupy in launch and landing.
Sally Ride and STS-7 crew train in seats they will occupy on the mission STS-7 crew training in the shuttle mission simulator (SMS) in seats they will occupy in launch and landing. Courtesy NASA Johnson Space Center (NASA-JSC)

STS-7 crew training in the shuttle mission simulator (SMS) taking the same seats they will occupy during launch and landing. Pictured, left to right, are Astronauts Robert L. Crippen, commander; Frederick H. Hauck, pilot; Dr. Sally K. Ride and John M. Fabian (almost totally obscured), mission specialists.

10
of 34

Sally Ride

Sally Ride and STS-7 Crew Training in the Shuttle Mission Simulator
Sally Ride and STS-7 crew prepare to leave the shuttle mission simulator (SMS). Sally Ride and STS-7 Crew Training in the Shuttle Mission Simulator. Courtesy NASA Johnson Space Center (NASA-JSC)

STS-7 crew training in the shuttle mission simulator (SMS). Dr. Sally Ride and other crew members are preparing to leave the SMS.

11
of 34

Sally Ride

Sally Ride, training for STS-7 mission
Sally Ride during STS-7 crew training in the shuttle mission simulator (SMS). Sally Ride, training for STS-7 mission. Courtesy NASA Johnson Space Center (NASA-JSC)

STS-7 crew training in the shuttle mission simulator (SMS): portrait view of Dr. Ride exiting the SMS.

12
of 34

Sally Ride

Astronaut Sally K. Ride participates in a mission sequence test for STS-7, 1983
Sally Ride in a Mission Sequence Test - 1983 Astronaut Sally K. Ride, left, participates in a mission sequence test for STS-7, in the Kennedy Space Center's vertical processing facility (VPF). She is joined by Anna L. Fisher, a physician and astronaut. Courtesy NASA Johnson Space Center (NASA-JSC)

Astronaut Sally K. Ride, left, participates in a mission sequence test for STS-7, in the Kennedy Space Center's vertical processing facility (VPF). She is joined by Anna L. Fisher, a physician and astronaut.

13
of 34

Sally Ride

Astronauts Sally Ride and John Fabian participate in pre-mission crew mission tests.
Astronaut Sally K. Ride and John Fabian participates in crew mission test. Astronauts Sally Ride and John Fabian participate in pre-mission crew mission tests. Courtesy NASA Johnson Space Center (NASA-JSC)

Astronauts Sally K. Ride and John M. Fabian, two of the three STS-7 mission specialists, participate in a crew mission test in the Kennedy Space Center's vertical processing facility (VPF). They are both wearing clean suits.

14
of 34

Sally Ride

Astronaut Sally K. Ride stands outside of shuttle mission simulator, 1983.
Sally Ride outside of shuttle mission simulator - 1983 Astronaut Sally K. Ride stands outside of shuttle mission simulator with suit specialist Troy Stewart after simulation of conditions for STS-7 flight, 1983. Courtesy NASA Johnson Space Center (NASA-JSC)

Astronaut Sally K. Ride stands outside of shuttle mission simulator with suit specialist Troy Stewart after simulation of conditions for STS-7 flight, 1983.

15
of 34

Sally Ride

Portrait of Sally Ride outside Shuttle Mission Simulator, 1983.
Sally Ride Outside Shuttle Mission Simulator - 1983 Portrait view of Astronaut Sally K. Ride, mission specialist for STS-7, standing outside of the Shuttle Mission Simulator (SMS). She is wearing the shuttle blue flight suit. Courtesy of NASA Johnson Space Center (NASA-JSC)

Portrait view of Astronaut Sally K. Ride, mission specialist for STS-7, standing outside of the Shuttle Mission Simulator (SMS). She is wearing the shuttle blue flight suit.

16
of 34

Sally Ride

Sally Ride Departing in T-38 - Preparing to Put on Helmet
Sally Ride prepares to put on helmet Sally Ride Departing in T-38 - Preparing to Put on Helmet. Courtesy NASA Johnson Space Center (NASA-JSC)

Sally Ride of the STS-7 crew in T-38 aircraft preparing for departure at Ellington Air Force Base for Kennedy Space Center (KSC) on June 15, 1983. Astronaut Ride about to put on her helmet in preparation for leaving Ellington for Florida and Kennedy Space Center.

17
of 34

Sally Ride

Sally Ride Preparing for Departure in T-38 - Prepares to Put On Face Mask
Sally Ride Prepares to Put on Face Mask Sally Ride Preparing for Departure in T-38 - Prepares to Don Face Mask. Courtesy NASA Johnson Space Center (NASA-JSC)

Views of the STS-7 crew in T-38 aircraft preparing for departure at Ellington Air Force Base for Kennedy Space Center (KSC) on June 15, 1983. Astronaut Sally K. Ride, STS-7 mission specialist, having donned her helmet, prepares to put her face mask on for her departure for Kennedy Space Center.

18
of 34

Sally Ride

Astronaut Sally Ride in pilot's chair on the flight deck.
Sally Ride in the Pilot's Chair of the Flight Deck - 1983 Astronaut Sally K. Ride, mission specialist on STS-7, monitors control panels from the pilot's chair on the Flight Deck. Floating in front of her is a flight procedures notebook. Courtesy NASA Headquarters - Greatest Images of NASA (NASA-HQ-GRIN)

Astronaut Sally K. Ride, mission specialist on STS-7, monitors control panels from the pilot's chair on the Flight Deck. Floating in front of her is a flight procedures notebook.

19
of 34

Sally Ride

Sally Ride - Inflight View STS-7 - Wearing TFNG Shirt
Sally Ride Cleans Out Air Filtering on STS-7 Sally Ride - Inflight View STS-7 - Wearing TFNG Shirt. Courtesy NASA Johnson Space Center (NASA-JSC)

Astronaut Sally K. Ride, mission specialist, using a screw driver to clean out an air filtering system in the middeck of the Challenger. Inflight view of the crew of STS-7, including Sally Ride. Dr. Ride's constant wear garment bears a cartoon of 35 busy astronauts around a space shuttle and the acronym TFNG, below which is written, "We deliver!". TFNG stands for thirty five new guys, referring to the 1978 class of astronauts from which Dr. Ride and three of her crewmates hail.

20
of 34

Sally Ride

Sally Ride and the crew of STS-7 in flight.
Inflight view of the crew of STS-7 Sally Ride and the crew of STS-7 in flight. Courtesy NASA Johnson Space Center (NASA-JSC)

Inflight view of the crew of STS-7. This view is a group portrait of the crew on the flight deck. From left to right are Norman E. Thagard, mission specialist; Robert L. Crippen, crew commander; Sally K. Ride, mission specialist; and John M. Fabian, mission specialist. Seated in front of the group between Crippen and Ride is Pilot Frederick H. Hauck.

21
of 34

Sally Ride

Sally Ride with STS-7 Crew In Flight
Sally Ride with crew of STS-7, taken inflight Sally Ride with STS-7 Crew In Flight. Courtesy NASA Johnson Space Center (NASA-JSC)

Inflight view of the crew of STS-7, including Sally Ride, first American woman in space. This view is a group portrait of the crew on the flight deck displaying some jelly beans discovered among their food supplies.

The label on the candy reads "Compliments of the White House." In the rear from left to right are Astronauts Robert L. Crippen, crew commander; Frederick H. Hauck, pilot; and John M. Fabian, mission specialist. In front are Drs. Sally K. Ride and Norman E. Thagard, mission specialists.

22
of 34

Sally Ride

Sally Ride is interviewed in the post-flight press conference.
Sally Ride with the Press After Historic Flight Sally Ride is interviewed in the post-flight press conference. Courtesy NASA Johnson Space Center (NASA-JSC)

Post flight press conference for the STS-7 mission: Sally Ride fields questions from the press.

23
of 34

Sally Ride and Kathryn Sullivan

Official Photo of 41-G Crew Including Kathryn Sullivan and Sally Ride
Official photo of the STS 41-G crew, including Sally Ride and Kathryn Sullivan. Official Photo of 41-G Crew Including Kathryn Sullivan and Sally Ride. Courtesy NASA Johnson Space Center (NASA-JSC)

The replica of a gold astronaut pin near McBride signifies unity. Official photo of the STS 41-G crew. They are (bottom row, left to right) Astronauts Jon A. McBride, pilot; and Sally K. Ride, Kathryn D. Sullivan and David C. Leestma, all mission specialists. Top row from left to right are Paul D. Scully-Power, payload specialist; Robert L. Crippen, crew commander; and Marc Garneau, Canadian payload specialist.

24
of 34

Sally Ride and Kathryn Sullivan

Kathryn Sullivan and Sally Ride - STS 41-G Crew in Civilian Clothes
STS 41-G crew in civilian clothes, including Sally Ride and Kathryn Sullivan STS 41-G Crew in Civilian Clothes. Courtesy NASA Johnson Space Center (NASA-JSC)

Portrait view of STS 41-G crew in civilian clothes. Bottom row (l.-r.) Payload specialists Marc Garneau and Paul Scully-Power, crew commander Robert Crippen. Second row (l-.r-) Pilot Jon McBride, and Mission Specialists David Leestma and Sally Ride. At very top is Mission Specialist Kathryn Sullivan.

25
of 34

Sally Ride and Kathryn Sullivan

Astronauts Sullivan and Ride synchronize their watches before liftoff
Ride and Sullivan Synchronize Watches Astronauts Kathryn Sullivan and Sally Ride synchronize their watches in the white room on the orbiter access arm before insertion into the orbiter crew compartment. This photo was done before liftoff of the Shuttle Challenger. Courtesy NASA Johnson Space Center (NASA-JSC)

Astronauts Kathryn Sullivan and Sally Ride synchronize their watches in the white room on the orbiter access arm before insertion into the orbiter crew compartment. This photo was done before liftoff of the Shuttle Challenger.

26
of 34

Sally Ride and Kathryn Sullivan on Space Shuttle

Sally Ride and Kathryn Sullivan show sleep restraint on space shuttle.
Sally Ride and Kathryn Sullivan show sleep restraint on space shuttle. Astronauts Kathryn D. Sullivan, left, and Sally K. Ride display a "bag of worms." The "bag" is a sleep restraint and the majority of the "worms" are springs and clips used with the sleep restraint in its normal application. Courtesy NASA Headquarters - GReatest Images of NASA (NASA-HQ-GRIN)

Astronauts Kathryn D. Sullivan, left, and Sally K. Ride display a "bag of worms." The "bag" is a sleep restraint and the majority of the "worms" are springs and clips used with the sleep restraint in its normal application. Clamps, a bungee cord and velcro strips are other recognizable items in the "bag."

27
of 34

Sally Ride and Kathryn Sullivan

Sally Ride and Kathryn Sullivan in STS 41-G crew, photo taken on the flight
Crew Photo of STS 41-G in flight, including Sally Ride and Kathryn Sullivan. Sally Ride and Kathryn Sullivan in STS 41-G crew, photo taken on the flight. Courtesy NASA Johnson Space Center (NASA-JSC)

STS 41-G crew photo taken on the flight deck of the Challenger during the flight. Front row (l.-r.) Jon A. McBride, pilot; Sally K. RIde, Kathryn D. SUllivan and David C. Leestma, all mission specialists. Back row (l.-r.) Paul D. Scully-Power, payload specialist; Robert L. Crippen, crew commander; and Marc Garneau, payload specialist. Garneau represents the National Research Council of Canada and Scully-Power is a civilian oceanographer with the U.S. Navy.

28
of 34

Sally Ride

Sally Ride in Presidential Commission Investigating Challenger Accident
Presidential Commission on Challenger Arrives at KSC Sally Ride in Presidential Commission Investigating Challenger Accident. Courtesy NASA Johnson Space Center (NASA-JSC)

Members of the Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger accident arrive at Kennedy Space Center, including Sally Ride. Commission members present are Robert Hotz (center) and Dr. Sally Ride. Others pictured are John Chase, staff assistant to the Commission (far right) and from left to right: Bob Sieck, Director of Shuttle operations; Jack Martin and John Fabian.

29
of 34

Sally Ride

Sally Ride on Presidential Commission investigating the Challenger explosion, 1986.
Sally Ride in Presidential commission investigating Challenger accident Sally Ride on Presidential Commission investigating the Challenger explosion, 1986. Courtesy NASA Johnson Space Center (NASA-JSC)

Sally Ride in the Presidential commission investigating the Challenger accident at the Kennedy Space Center. Kennedy Space Center Director Richard Smith points out a portion of a solid rocket booster segment to Astronaut Sally Ride and to the chairman of the Presidential Commission, William P. Rogers.

30
of 34

Sally Ride

On Challenger's middeck, Mission Specialist Sally Ride floats alongside the middeck airlock hatch.
Sally Ride on Challenger's Middeck - 1992 On Challenger's middeck, Mission Specialist (MS) Sally Ride, wearing light blue flight coveralls and communications headset, floats alongside the middeck airlock hatch. Courtesy NASA Headquarters - GReatest Images of NASA (NASA-HQ-GRIN)

On Challenger's middeck, Mission Specialist (MS) Sally Ride, wearing light blue flight coveralls and communications headset, floats alongside the middeck airlock hatch.

31
of 34

Sally Ride

Astronaut Sally K. Ride, mission specialist for STS-7, and others.
Sally Ride with Camera, Pre-Launch - 1983 Astronaut Sally K. Ride, mission specialist for STS-7, records some of the prelaunch activity for STS-6 at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC). Courtesy NASA Johnson Space Center (NASA-JSC)

Astronaut Sally K. Ride, mission specialist for STS-7, records some of the prelaunch activity for STS-6 at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC). Astronaut William B. Lenoir, STS-5 mission specialist, is at left. Others pictured include Richard W. Nygren (center), Chief of the Vehicle Integration Section of the Operations Division at JSC; and Astronaut William F. Fisher, second right.

32
of 34

Sally Ride, Ellen Ochoa, Joan Higginbotham, Yvonne Cable

Marta Bohn-Meyer, Ellen Ochoa, Joan Higginbotham, Yvonne Cagle, Sally Ride, and Jennifer Harris.
Female astronauts at women's forum in 1999 at Apollo/Saturn V Center. Marta Bohn-Meyer, Ellen Ochoa, Joan Higginbotham, Yvonne Cagle, Sally Ride, and Jennifer Harris at Apollo/Saturn Women's Forum, 1999. Courtesy NASA Kennedy Space Center (NASA-KSC)

At a women's forum about "Past, Present and Future of Space," held in the Apollo/Saturn V Center, guests line the stage. From left, they are Marta Bohn-Meyer, the first woman to pilot an SR- 71; astronauts Ellen Ochoa, Ken Cockrell, Joan Higginbotham, and Yvonne Cagle; former astronaut Sally Ride, the first American woman to fly in space; and Jennifer Harris, the Mars 2001 Operations System Development Manager at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The forum included a welcome by Center Director Roy Bridges and remarks by Donna Shalala, secretary of Department of Health and Human Services.

The attendees are planning to view the launch of STS-93 at the Banana Creek viewing site. Much attention has been generated over the launch due to Commander Eileen M. Collins, the first woman to serve as commander of a Shuttle mission. The primary payload of the five-day mission is the Chandra X-ray Observatory, which will allow scientists from around the world to study some of the most distant, powerful and dynamic objects in the universe.

33
of 34

Sally Ride, Ellen Ochoa, Joan Higginbotham, Yvonne Cable

Women in Space Forum, 1999 - Ellen Ochoa, Joan Higginbotham, Yvonne Cagle, Sally Ride
Women astronauts speak at 1999 forum about women in space Women in Space Forum, 1999 - Ellen Ochoa, Joan Higginbotham, Yvonne Cagle, Sally Ride. Courtesy NASA Kennedy Space Center (NASA-KSC)

Participating in a forum about women in space, Astronauts Ellen Ochoa, Joan Higginbotham and Yvonne Cagle share the podium with Sally Ride. Participating in a forum about women in space, Astronauts Ellen Ochoa, Joan Higginbotham and Yvonne Cagle share the podium.

They were included in a panel discussing "Past, Present and Future of Space." Former astronaut Sally Ride is at right. The forum about women in space included a welcome by Center Director Roy Bridges and remarks by Donna Shalala, secretary of Department of Health and Human Services.

The panel is moderated by Lynn Sherr, ABC News correspondent. The attendees are planning to view the launch of STS-93 at the Banana Creek viewing sight. Much attention has been generated over the launch due to Commander Eileen M. Collins, the first woman to serve as commander of a Shuttle mission.

The primary payload of the five-day mission is the Chandra X-ray Observatory, which will allow scientists from around the world to study some of the most distant, powerful and dynamic objects in the universe.

34
of 34

Sally Ride

Sally Ride speaking to young women at science festival, 2003.
Sally Ride speaks to young women about science - 2003. Former astronaut Sally Ride talks to young women at the Sally Ride Science Festival, held at the University of Central Florida, Orlando, Fla., 2003. Courtesy NASA Kennedy Space Center (NASA-KSC)

Former astronaut Sally Ride talks to young women at the Sally Ride Science Festival, held at the University of Central Florida, Orlando, Fla. The event promotes science, math and technology as future career paths for girls. Breakout sessions afforded closer interaction between Ride and festival attendees. Since it followed the tragic loss of the Columbia astronauts, a large poster was presented which attendees could sign as tribute..

Format
mla apa chicago
Your Citation
Lewis, Jone Johnson. "Sally Ride Picture Gallery." ThoughtCo, Jun. 25, 2024, thoughtco.com/sally-ride-picture-gallery-4123129. Lewis, Jone Johnson. (2024, June 25). Sally Ride Picture Gallery. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/sally-ride-picture-gallery-4123129 Lewis, Jone Johnson. "Sally Ride Picture Gallery." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/sally-ride-picture-gallery-4123129 (accessed April 8, 2025).