Sally Ride Science at UC San Diego

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Sally Ride Science at UC San Diego

Sally Ride Science at UC San Diego helps educators build students’ STEM literacy and connect what students are learning to exciting STEM careers.

06/01/2026

Sally Ride and her STS-7 crewmates met President Ronald Reagan at the White House on June 1, 1983, 17 days before Ride became the first American woman in space. "You and that white spacecraft you fly represent the hope of the future," Reagan told the crew during a news conference. Walking behind Ride is astronaut John Fabian, who passed away May 21 at the age of 87. https://buff.ly/SGpSBl5 National Archives photo

05/29/2026

If there is life beyond our planet, what does it look like? Astrobiologists try to answer that question in part by studying organisms like the microscopic tardigrade (shown here in an illustration) that live in Earth's most extreme environments. In “Astrobiology,” a live online workshop at this summer’s Sally Ride Science Academy, high school students will investigate the adaptations of these extremophiles and consider the potential for life on other planets. The academy offers in-person and online STEAM workshops for K-12. See the schedule: https://buff.ly/XM72ayy

05/28/2026

The recent Artemis 2 flight around the Moon captured the public's imagnation in a big way. Planetary scientist Meenakshi Wadhwa, director of Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego, shared her insights about why people find space travel so fascinating. She told UC San Diego Today, "Space exploration captivates us for a simple reason: It holds the promise of answering some of our most fundamental questions. Where did we come from? Are we alone? What becomes of us?" Read more: https://buff.ly/rSg6MTR UC San Diego photo/Erik Jepsen

05/27/2026

As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of Sally Ride Science, we’re looking back on the pioneering astronaut’s life. Our roundup of "25 Things You Might Not Know About Sally Ride" includes the fact that she co-wrote science books for kids. After Ride retired from NASA, she and her life partner, Tam O'Shaughnessy, collaborated on a number of books, including “The Third Planet: Exploring the Earth from Space,” which won the prestigious Children’s Science Writing Award from the American Institute of Physics in 1995. Ride is shown signing "The Mystery of Mars" at a Sally Ride Science Festival in 2007. Learn more about America's first woman in space: https://buff.ly/bON5p4Z

05/26/2026

Sally Ride was born on May 26, 1951, in Los Angeles. Ride’s parents encouraged her interest in science, and she went on to earn a doctorate in physics before joining NASA's astronaut corps and becoming the first American woman in space. After retiring from NASA, Ride taught physics at UC San Diego and co-founded Sally Ride Science to inspire girls and boys of all backgrounds in STEM. She died in 2012. Today Sally Ride Science carries on her legacy as part of UC San Diego Extended Studies. https://buff.ly/v2yDjT5 NASA photo

05/25/2026

On Memorial Day, we salute the men and women who have died while serving our country. The photo shows NASA astronaut David Scott saluting the flag on the lunar surface during the Apollo 15 mission in 1971. https://buff.ly/w392jp7 NASA photo

05/23/2026

We were saddened to hear of the death of retired NASA astronaut John Fabian at the age of 87. In 1983 Fabian was Sally Ride's crewmate aboard shuttle Challenger during mission STS-7, which made her the first American woman in space. Fabian and Ride are shown taking part in a crew mission test before their historic flight. He was a retired Air Force pilot who flew 90 combat missions during the Vietnam War, and Ride often rode along with him on astronaut training flights in T-38 jets. Fabian, who earned a doctorate in aeronautics and astronautics, flew on two shuttle missions. https://buff.ly/dcKeKY8 NASA photo

05/22/2026

Summer Sally Ride Science Academy offers STEAM inspiration for students of all ages, from kindergarten through high school. For lower elementary (K-3) students, hands-on workshops include "Sense Detectives: Exploring the Five Senses," "Food Chain Fun" and "Discovering Dinosaurs and Their World." See all the classes, offered through UC San Diego Extended Studies: https://buff.ly/XM72ayy

05/21/2026

On May 23, 2018, the US Postal Service dedicated a Forever stamp in Sally Ride's honor at UC San Diego, home of Sally Ride Science. Paying tribute to Ride were, from left, UC San Diego Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla; tennis legend Billie Jean King; USPS Chief Information Officer Kristin Seaver; Tam O’Shaughnessy, Ride’s life partner and executive director of Sally Ride Science; Ellen Ochoa, first Hispanic woman in space; and UC San Diego Vice Chancellor Becky R. Petitt. Watch the stamp ceremony: https://buff.ly/nCdRg2f

05/20/2026

in 2013, NASA held a national tribute to Sally Ride, America's first woman in space, at Kennedy Center in Washiington. Ride had died of pancreatic cancer the previous year. Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), center, who was one of the speakers, posed outside the venue flanked by eight astronauts. From left are Cady Coleman, Kathy Sullivan, Sandy Magnus, Bonnie Dunbar, Ellen Ochoa, Pam Melroy, Kay Hire and Julie Payette. https://buff.ly/enntngh NASA photo/Bill Ingalls

Address

San Diego, CA

Telephone

+18585340804

Website

https://sallyridescience.ucsd.edu/

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