First American Woman in Space

Today's History Lesson...woman in space


Moving forward from the 60s into the 80s the age of space technology continues but this time not limited just to men astronauts. Among the recordings of history are accounts of excitement, exploration, invention, monumental undertakings, and innumerable chronological events. Many accounts focus on the accomplishments of women.

This Day in History: June 18, 1983

Can you imagine the feeling of being selected to travel into space...outside any of the familiar boundaries of Earth? And, if that's not enough, you are the first American woman! From the onset of the news, think about the sheer excitement as adrenaline pumps energy throughout your entire body you never knew you even had.

Sally Ride communicates with ground controllers
from the flight deck of Space Shuttle Challenger
during her first mission in space, STS-7.
(Photo by NASA)

Almost twenty years to the day after the first woman in space, Dr. Sally Ride, a mission specialist, joined the Challenger shuttle mission becoming the first American woman to complete the same feat. Soviet Cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova traveled into space aboard Vostok 6 on June 16, 1963. After 48 orbits and 71 hours, she returned to earth, having spent more time in space than all U.S. astronauts combined to that date.

 

Female astronauts went on to become commonplace in the 1980s. As of June, 2013, 57 women have flown in space, out of 534 total space travelers. By country of origin: one each from India, UK, France, South Korea; two each from Canada, China and Japan, three from Soviet Union/Russia, and 44 from the United States. As for the Challenger missions, the last occurred on January 28, 1986 ending tragically with the death of all on board. At 11:39:13 EST on January 28, 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger and her seven member crew slipped from view. Among its crew of seven was the first American civilian, high school teacher, Christa McAuliffe.

While celebrating the first American woman in space, we are also
Remembering the Challenger!