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===Post Astronaut===

===Post Astronaut===

In 1989, Dr. Ride joined the faculty at UCSD as a Professor of Physics and Director of the University of California’s California Space Institute. In 2001 she founded her own company, Sally Ride Science to pursue her long-time passion of motivating girls and young women to pursue careers in [[science]], [[Mathematics|math]] and technology. The company creates entertaining science programs and publications for upper elementary and middle school students and their parents and teachers.

In 1989, Ride joined the faculty at UCSD as a Professor of Physics and Director of the University of California’s California Space Institute. In 2001 she founded her own company, Sally Ride Science to pursue her long-time passion of motivating girls and young women to pursue careers in [[science]], [[Mathematics|math]] and technology. The company creates entertaining science programs and publications for upper elementary and middle school students and their parents and teachers.

Long an advocate for improved science education, Dr. Ride has written five science books for children: ''To Space and Back''; ''Voyager''; ''The Third Planet''; ''The Mystery of Mars''; and ''Exploring Our Solar System''. She has also initiated and directed education projects designed to fuel middle school students' fascination with science.  

Long an advocate for improved science education, Dr. Ride has written five science books for children: ''To Space and Back''; ''Voyager''; ''The Third Planet''; ''The Mystery of Mars''; and ''Exploring Our Solar System''. She has also initiated and directed education projects designed to fuel middle school students' fascination with science.  

Dr. Ride has been a member of the President's Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology and the National Research Council's Space Studies Board, and has served on the Boards of the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment, the Carnegie Institution of Washington, and the NCAA Foundation. Dr. Ride is a Fellow of the [[American Physical Society]], a member of the Pacific Council on International Policy, and currently serves on the Boards of the Aerospace Corporation and the [[California Institute of Technology]]. She is the only person to have served on the Commissions investigating both the Space Shuttle Challenger and [[Space Shuttle Columbia]] accidents.

Ride has been a member of the President's Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology and the National Research Council's Space Studies Board, and has served on the Boards of the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment, the Carnegie Institution of Washington, and the NCAA Foundation. Ride was a Fellow of the [[American Physical Society]], a member of the Pacific Council on International Policy, and currently serves on the Boards of the Aerospace Corporation and the [[California Institute of Technology]]. She is the only person to have served on the Commissions investigating both the Space Shuttle Challenger and [[Space Shuttle Columbia]] accidents.

Dr. Ride has received numerous honors and awards. She has been inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame and the Astronaut Hall of Fame, and has received the [[Thomas Jefferson|Jefferson]] Award for Public Service, the [[Wernher von Braun|von Braun]] Award, the [[Charles Lindbergh|Lindbergh]] Eagle, and the [[NCAA]]’s [[Theodore Roosevelt]] Award. She has also twice been awarded the NASA Space Flight Medal.<ref>[http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/ride-sk.html Ride's biography as released by NASA (2006)]</ref>

Ride received numerous honors and awards. She was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame and the Astronaut Hall of Fame, and has received the [[Thomas Jefferson|Jefferson]] Award for Public Service, the [[Wernher von Braun|von Braun]] Award, the [[Charles Lindbergh|Lindbergh]] Eagle, and the [[NCAA]]’s [[Theodore Roosevelt]] Award. She has also twice been awarded the NASA Space Flight Medal.<ref>[http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/ride-sk.html Ride's biography as released by NASA (2006)]</ref>

Ride was married to astronaut Steve Hawley. They divorced in 1987.<ref name=wp>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/she-the-people/post/sally-ride-didnt-want-to-be-a-gay-icon/2012/07/24/gJQAFxdo6W_blog.html|title=Sally Ride didn't want to be a gay icon|author=Suzi Parker|date=July 24, 2012|work=Washington Post|accessdate=July 25, 2012}}</ref> Later she had a 27-year relationship with Tam O’Shaughnessy, a professor emerita of school psychology at San Diego State University. O'Shaughnessy and Ride wrote several books together, and O’Shaughnessy was also chief operating officer and executive vice president of Ride's company.<ref name=wp/>

Sally died at age 61 after losing the battle with pancreatic cancer and she announced that she was a lesbian in her obituary.

Ride died at age 61 after losing the battle with pancreatic cancer. She had authored an obituary which announced that she was a lesbian.<ref name=wp/>

==References==

==References==