Famous female space explorers
It has been more than a week since the first female U.S. astronaut, Sally Ride, died due to pancreatic cancer. Take a look at this slideshow to see the progression of U.S. female astronauts throughout history and how Ride has influenced future space exploration to come.
Famous female space explorers
Sally Ride: Astronaut Sally Ride, a specialist on shuttle mission STS-7, monitors control panels from the pilot's chair on the shuttle Challenger flight deck. Ride, the first American woman in space, died Monday, July 23, 2012 after a 17-month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 61. In addition to her space flight experience, Ride was also a professor at the University of California, San Deigo and founded Sally Ride Science, an organization that promotes science education in elementary schools (AP Photo/NASA, File)
Famous female space explorers
Kathryn Sullivan: Kathryn Sullivan was the first American woman to walk in space on Oct., 1984. Since then she has been involved in three shuttle missions and in 2004 was inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame. (Photo courtesy of NASA)
Famous female space explorers
Anna Fisher: Selected by NASA as a candidate for astronaut training in 1978, Anna Fisher became the first mother in space in 1984 aboard the shuttle Discovery and helped with the development of the robotic arm used in space. (Photo courtesy of NASA)
Famous female space explorers
Margaret Rhea Seddon: Among one of the first groups of women selected to go into space, Margaret Rhea Seddon became the first female medical doctor to be an astronaut. Since 1985, she has participated in three shuttle missions. (NASA)
Famous female space explorers
Christa McAuliffe: A teacher from New Hampshire, Christa McAuliffe was selected to be the first teacher in space aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger. However, McAuliffe and six other astronauts perished on live TV on Jan. 28, 1986, when their space shuttle broke apart shortly after launch. (AP Photo)
Famous female space explorers
Nancy Jan Davis: Nancy Jan Davis joined NASA in 1987 and participated in her first space flight on Sept.,1992. Davis has been involved in three missions including shuttle launches in 1994 and 1997. She is also a part of the first married couple to enter space together with then-husband and astronaut Mark C. Lee.(Photo courtesy of NASA)
Famous female space explorers
Mae Jemison: In 1992 Mae Jemison (seen right) became the first African American woman to travel into space abroad the space shuttle Endeavor. Jemison is also the only astronaut to appear on the television show Star Trek and has been a heavy advocate for both Sciences and the Arts throughout her career. (Manning Selvage & Lee)
Famous female space explorers
Eileen Collins: Eileen Collins (seen right) became the first first female to pilot a U.S. space shuttle in 1995 aboard the shuttle Discovery. Later in her NASA career, Collins became the first female commander of a U.S. spacecraft in 1999 aboard the shuttle Columbia.(AP Photo/NASA)
Famous female space explorers
Ellen Ochoa: Born on May 10, 1958 in Los Angles Calif., Ellen Ochoa was the first Hispanic woman to travel to space in 1993 aboard the shuttle Discovery. Ochoa has logged about 1,000 hours in space during her NASA career and is currently the deputy director of the Johnson Space Center. (Photo courtesy of NASA)
Famous female space explorers
Shannon Lucid: Selected by NASA to be an astronaut in 1978, Shannon Lucid is well recognized for once holding the record for spending the most days in space by a female astronaut. Lucid's 179 days aboard the Russian space station was surpassed by female astronaut Sunita Williams in 2007, who spent 195 days aboard the International Space Station.(NASA TV, Arizona Daily Star)
Famous female space explorers
Nancy Currie: A United States Army Officer and NASA astronaut, Nancy Currie has participated in four shuttle launches into space. This includes one in 1998 where Currie helped with the first assembly of the International Space Station. (Photo courtesy of NASA)
Famous female space explorers
Sunita Williams: Beginning her career as a NASA astronaut in 1998, Sunita Williams currently holds the records for the most days spent in space and the longest spacewalk by a female astronaut. As of July 2012, Williams is currently in space participating in an expedition conducted by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. (NASA)
The U.S. space capsule Gemini 3 took off for its 5-hour mission on March 23, 1965. It was the first two-person space mission and made the firs…
On Jan. 27, 1967, astronauts Ed White, Roger Chaffee, and Virgil Grissom were killed when a flash fire occurred in their space capsule during …