Re: Is Sally Ride the first woman to pilot a space shuttle?

Hi Eddie!

That is a great question, and sorry it's taken so long to get back to 
you...

Dr. Sally Ride accomplished a lot of important things while she was 
working for NASA, but she was not in 
fact, the first woman to pilot the space shuttle.  Dr. Ride was a mission 
specialist for the Challenger STS-7 mission and became the first American woman 
in space.  A mission specialist is one of the scientists and engineers 
that undergo extensive training to conduct experiments, put objects into 
orbit, or do maintenance or service on objects already in space.  The 
pilot for that mission was Frederick H. Hauck.  Dr. Ride went up again for 
Challenger STS-41-G which also included Kathryn D. 
Sullivan, the first American woman to walk in space.  Both missions were 
commanded by Robert L. Crippen.

The first woman space shuttle pilot was United States Air Force Lieutenant 
Colonel Eileen Collins, aboard the Columbia, in Spring, 1999.  

If you would like to write to Dr. Sally Ride, you can send a letter with a 
self-addressed, stamped envelope to:
Dr. Sally Ride
Director
California Space Institute
University of California at San Diego
La Jolla, CA 92093

If you would like to know more about women in NASA, please visit Women of NASA page and see 
how many outstanding women have contributed to the space program.

Hope this helps!

Jeff Yap
Mad Scientist