BREAKING THE GLASS CEILING.

In 1961, Yuri Gagarin became the first human being to journey into space. This historic event marked the start of a new era inhuman exploration, and soon the United States had its sights set on sending astronauts to space as well. It was a male-dominated field, and many people believed that women were not fit for such a mission. But one woman was determined to prove them wrongspace exploration, and sparked a space race between the United States and the Soviet Union. The two superpowers were determined to one-up each other in the realm of space travel, and by the end of the decade, the US had put a man on the moon.

But it wasn't until two decades later that the US made another massive leap forward in space exploration, and this time, a woman was at the helm.

In 1983, Sally Ride became the first American woman to enter space, breaking the glass ceiling in the world of space travel.

Sally Ride was born on May 26, 1951 in Los Angeles, California. She was a bright and ambitious student, with a passion for science and a desire to explore the unknown. She attended Stanford University, where she earned a degree in physics in 1973, and then went on to earn a Ph.D. in physics from Stanford in 1978.

Ride's focus was on the study of astrophysics and she conducted research on x-ray astronomy and free-electron lasers. During her studies, she was introduced to Dr. Robert Behnken, an astronaut, who encouraged her to apply to the astronaut program.

Sally Ride applied to NASA's astronaut program in 1977, along with thousands of other applicants. She was one of only 35 people selected for the program, and in 1978 she began her astronaut training.

Ride's training was rigorous and intense. She had to learn how to fly a jet plane, master the Russian language, and undergo intense physical and psychological testing. But she was determined to succeed and was soon chosen for her first mission.

In 1983, Sally Ride made history when she became the first American woman to enter space. She was a member of the crew of the Challenger STS-7 mission, where she served as the mission specialist.

During her time in space, Ride conducted experiments on the human body's response to space travel and worked on the development of the shuttle's robotic arm system. She also became the first woman to operate the shuttle's robotic arm in space.

Despite the historic nature of her mission, Sally Ride remained humble throughout her career. She did not see herself as a trailblazer or a feminist icon, but simply as a scientist who wanted to explore the universe.

Ride went on to serve as a mission specialist on a second Challenger mission in 1984, and later worked on the investigation into the Challenger disaster in 1986.

After leaving NASA, Sally Ride continued her work in science education and advocacy for women in science. She founded Sally Ride Science, an organization dedicated to encouraging young girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

Sally Ride passed away on July 23, 2012, at the age of 61, after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. But her legacy lives on as a pioneer for women in space and an inspiration to young girls everywhere.

Sally Ride's accomplishments were groundbreaking, but they were also a reminder of the struggles women still face in STEM fields today. The gender gap in STEM careers is still significant, with women occupying only a fraction of top positions in science and engineering.

But Sally Ride's life and career show that gender should not be a barrier to achievement. Her story is an inspiration to women everywhere, and a reminder that even the impossible is possible with hard work, determination, and courage.