Sally Kristen Ride (May 26, 1951 — July 23, 2012) Posted on July 24, 2012 by Jody In 1983, at age 32, Ride was the first American woman, and the youngest American, to enter space. Left to right: First American woman to fly in space Sally Ride, John McCreary Fabian, Robert Crippen, Norman Thagard, Frederick Hamilton “Rick” Hauck.