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Sally Ride: A Feminist Hero and the First American Woman in Space

One of a Kind

We know that Dr. Sally Ride was the first American woman in space, but at age 32, she was also the youngest. She ultimately became the only person to sit on both panels while investigating the disastrous shuttle accidents that killed everybody on board (the Challenger explosion in 1986 and the Columbia crash in 2003).

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Photo by Granger / Shutterstock

When she noticed the ad, Sally already had degrees in physics, astrophysics, and English. Since she was focusing on finishing up her Ph.D., we know this girl wasn’t messing around. In 1982, she told New York Times that when she looked at the qualifications, she said, “I’m one of those people.” She certainly wasn’t somebody who was going to let an opportunity pass her by.