“It was a real honor for me to get to be the first woman astronaut. I think it's really important that young girls that are growing up today can see that women can be astronauts too. There have actually been a lot of women, who are astronauts, that that's a career that's open to them.” ThinkingFirstsImportantRealTodayYoungGirlCareersGrowing UpGrowingHonorAstronaut Author:Sally Ride
“Yes, I did feel a special responsibility to be the first American woman in space.” FeelsFirstsSpaceResponsibilitySpecialAmerican Woman Author:Sally Ride
“So most astronauts getting ready to lift off are excited and very anxious and worried about that explosion - because if something goes wrong in the first seconds of launch, there's not very much you can do.” IfsFirstsCan DoReadyExcitedWorriedLiftsSecondsAnxiousExplosionsAstronaut Author:Sally Ride
“When the space shuttle's engines cut off, and you're finally in space, in orbit, weightless... I remember unstrapping from my seat, floating over to the window, and that's when I got my first view of Earth. Just a spectacular view, and a chance to see our planet as a planet.” FirstsEarthRememberChanceSpaceViewsCuttingPlanetsWindowSeatsEnginesFloatingOur PlanetSpectacularOrbitSpace Shuttle Author:Sally Ride
“I never went into physics or the astronaut corps to become a role model. But after my first flight, it became clear to me that I was one. And I began to understand the importance of that to people. Young girls need to see role models in whatever careers they may choose, just so they can picture themselves doing those jobs someday. You can't be what you can't see.” PeopleNeedsFirstsMayJobsYoungGirlCareersRolesClearModelsImportancePhysicsAssFlightSomedayRole ModelsBad AssAstronaut Author:Sally Ride
“The fact that I was going to be the first American woman to go into space carried huge expectations along with it.” FirstsFactsSpaceHugeExpectationsAssBad AssAmerican Woman Author:Sally Ride
“Astronauts will remain the explorers, the pioneers-the first to go back to moon and on to Mars. But I think it's really important to make space space available to as many people as we can. It's going to be a while before we can launch people for less than $20 million a ticket. But that day is coming.” PeopleThinkingFirstsImportantSpaceMillionsFutureMoonAvailableTicketsMarsPredictionsAstronautPioneersExplorers Author:Sally Ride
