The California Space Grant Consortium is saddened with the passing of Dr. Sally K. Ride July 23, 2012, after a 17-month battle with pancreatic cancer. Dr. Ride was the first American woman in space, with flights as mission specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1983 and 1984. She served as Director of the California Space Institute, a University of California research unit which was the lead organization for the California Space Grant Consortium. While there, she created EarthKAM, a NASA program involving middle school students shooting and analyzing photos of Earth from cameras on board the International Space Station, inspiring students in space sciences, geography, and mathematics. In 2001 Dr. Ride formed Sally Ride Science, an educational outreach organization, to pursue her passion of inspiring and engaging children into Science, Mathematics, and Technology. Through her stellar achievements and grassroots educational outreach efforts, Dr. Ride has served as a role model for women of all ages to pursue their dreams and reach for the stars.

For a timeline of Dr. Ride’s life and career, please click here. For a biography, please click here.