Maverick Speakers Series Presents Sally Ride

One of America's most-famous and most-beloved astronauts, Ride became the first American woman in space when she joined the STS-7 crew on June 18, 1983. At the time, she was also the youngest American (32)—male or female—ever to enter space. Ride flew two Shuttle missions, totaling more than two weeks in space. In the wake of the 1986 Challenger disaster, Ride was named to the Presidential Commission investigating the accident and authored NASA's first strategic plan. She also served on the Space Shuttle Columbia Accident Investigation Board in 2003.

Ride is now a professor of physics at the University of California at San Diego and is president and CEO of Sally Ride Science, which focuses on getting children, especially girls, interested in science.

Ride's lecture coincides with the 50th anniversary celebration of UT Arlington's College of Engineering.