Dr. Sally Ride made history when she became the first American woman in space on June 18, 1983. Ride was born and raised in California where she eventually received a Ph.D. in physics from Stanford University. Ride is now the president of Sally Ride Science, a company designed to spark interest in the sciences among young students, particularly girls. She recently visited Baltimore to speak about her time in outer space and the need for young scientists to face the problems posed by our changing climate.

Who were your mentors and role models growing up?

My father and a high school science teacher were the ones who really inspired me and kept me on the road to science. When I was growing up I was just a normal kid. I loved sports and I was a competitive tennis player, so Billie Jean King was one of my role models when I was growing up for the tennis side.

Your launch was a big moment in women’s history — was that something you thought about, going into the experience?

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There is so much work to prepare for a flight and so much information to cram into your brain that I really didn’t have time to think about that before the flight. But, I was very aware of the responsibility that I carried and that it was very important that I performed professionally and I performed well.

Do you think you are still seen as a symbol of women’s rights today?

I still do get that a little bit. I can see it in the eyes of a lot of the girls I interact with. The idea of a woman who has gone on to become a scientist and an astronaut is a path that a lot of young girls would like to follow. Right after I got back it became very clear how important my flight was to women around the country, and in fact, women around the world.

What is your most memorable experience in outer space?

The weightlessness — it’s just so different from anything you can experience on Earth. It was just so much fun and so different. Then, of course, the view of Earth is absolutely spectacular. I think that’s what gave me a lot of my interest in the environment and the importance of protecting it. I’ve carried that view with me for 25 years.

Has that image been a big motivation in what you are doing now?

It has become a huge focus for the work I do with students and teachers. It’s clear that the students are eager for more information on climate change. So we’re trying to provide that information to both the students and the teachers.

You also have an English degree with a focus in Shakespeare. What brought about that strange combination?

I was always fascinated by his writing. Obviously, he’s a brilliant writer who can spin an amazing story. I really became taken with Shakespeare when I was in college.

How or when did you decide to pursue a career with NASA?

I did think about being an astronaut growing up, but it was just so far out of the realm of possibility that it was never a reality until one day near the end of my time at Stanford. I saw an ad in the student newspaper calling for applications to NASA, and I decided to give it a try.

You’ve accomplished quite a bit in your lifetime: What is your single proudest moment?

My single proudest moment was probably the moment of my first launch because it was the culmination of so much. It took so much of my energy and effort to get to that seat in the space shuttle.

What do you hope to accomplish with the upcoming tour?

I am trying to promote the idea that girls growing up can make a real difference. They can have an impact on their communities and their planet by becoming scientists and helping us tackle [climate change] problems.