Born on May 26, 1951, Sally Ride not only made strides in this world being the first openly gay female astronaut later in life, but also strides out of this world being the first American Woman to venture into space. When the first call for female astronauts was issued, Ride jumped on the opportunity feeling as though she was qualified for the position. She was a world-renowned tennis athlete with the potential to advance her professional career in her early twenties while attending Swarthmore college, dually encouraged by her coach and professional tennis player Billie Jean King. Her heart stilled yearned for a life in science, so she moved on from her tennis career and enrolled at Stanford which was a little closer to home. She received two bachelor’s degrees, Physics and English, then went on to pursue her Ph.D. in physics while still at Stanford. Around the same time, she achieved PhD status, July of 1976, Ride answered the call for the first female astronauts. In 1978, Ride was among the first women to receive a call to participate in NASA’s first class of women to be astronauts. Finally, on June 18, 1983, Sally Ride was the first American Woman in space aboard the STS-7. As being the first woman to enter into space, she was the first to test the standard living environment for women, especially the restroom facilities. Aside from that, Ride was the first woman to help pilot the robotic arm that was positioned exterior to the ship to help with a new satellite placement.