Page 33 - Ruth Law
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RUTH LAW
DAYTONA'S PIONEER AVIATOR
FIRST AMERICAN WOMAN IN SPACE
Sally Kristen Ride - Mission Specialist
1951 -
Space Shuttle Challenger -STS-7
On June 18, 1983, STS-7, named Challenger, was
launched from the Kennedy Space Center. The seventh
shuttle mission successfully deployed two communication
satellites and conducted pharmaceutical experiments.
STS-7 lasted 6 days, 2 hours, 23 minutes, and 59
seconds, and traveled 2.5 million miles.
The Commander of the mission was Robert Crippen, Pilot
Frederick Hauck and Mission Specialists John M. Fabian,
Norman Thagard, and Sally Ride. It was the first shuttle
to fly with five crew members, and the first American
woman in space as a crew member.
In addition to her early interest in science, Sally was a
nationally ranked tennis player. She received a Master of
Science degree and doctorate in physics while doing
research in astrophysics and free electron laser physics.
Sally Ride was one of 8,000 people to answer an
advertisement in a newspaper seeking applicants for the
space program, and she joined NASA in 1978. She
helped to develop the Shuttle's robot arm, use it in space
and the first to retrieve a satellite. Sally cumulatively
spent more than 343 hours in space. In 2001, she
founded a company that creates science programs and
publications for students, especially girls. She has said,
"Our future lies with today's kids and tomorrow's space
exploration."
HER PLACE IN AVIATION HISTORY
30
