On June 18, 1983, Dr. Sally Ride launched aboard Space Shuttle Challenger on mission STS-7, becoming the first American woman in space. An astrophysicist and former tennis prodigy, Ride was 32 years old — and had been preparing for this moment since answering a NASA newspaper advertisement in 1977.
Sally Ride was part of NASA's first class to include women — the class of 1978, nicknamed the "Thirty-Five New Guys." Her selection for STS-7 was based purely on her performance as an astronaut candidate. She was skilled, calm, technically brilliant, and an effective communicator — exactly what NASA needed for the mission.
During the six-day STS-7 mission, Ride operated the Shuttle's robotic arm to deploy and retrieve satellites — a task that required precision, spatial reasoning, and real-time problem-solving. She performed flawlessly and went on to fly a second mission, STS-41G, in 1984.
Ride later served on the Rogers Commission that investigated the Challenger disaster, and in 1987 she left NASA to pursue a career in physics and science education. She founded Sally Ride Science to encourage young people — particularly girls — to pursue careers in STEM fields.
Sally Ride launched a generation of women in aviation and aerospace. At Cleared4Tees, we celebrate every trailblazer.
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→ Rise Above the Storms T-shirt → Beyond the Barrier T-shirt → Inspirational Aviation Collection
Blue skies and tailwinds — The Cleared4Tees Crew ✈️
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