Sally Ride to Quit NASA, Join Think Tank at Stanford
Sally K. Ride, America’s first woman in space and one of NASA’s brightest stars, will leave the space agency in August to take on a position with an arms control think tank at Stanford University, officials said today.
Ride, who holds a doctorate in physics and is a former tennis champion, is wrapping up a major study at NASA headquarters on the agency’s long-term goals.
A NASA statement said Ride, who turned 36 today, will leave the agency Aug. 15.
Ride’s decision to leave the National Aeronautics and Space Administration came as a shock to many observers because of her high-visibility role and expertise.
She served as a member of the Rogers Commission that investigated the Challenger disaster, completed two shuttle flights and had been assigned to the crew of a third. She is married to astronaut Steven Hawley.
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