Google Hangout on Air with Sally Ride’s Biographer, Lynn Sherr

When Sally Ride first took to space on June 18, 1983, I was working in Japan and missed the inevitable media coverage surrounding her historic flight.

Join Our Community of Science Lovers!

This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American


When Sally Ride first took to space on June 18, 1983, I was working in Japan and missed the inevitable media coverage surrounding her historic flight. I was aware, of course, but didn't see the launch and even if I had watched the Japanese news, I'm sure it was not given the airtime that it was in the United States.

Sally Ride, as you should know, was the first American woman in space. A tennis player turned astrophysicist, then astronaut, then educator, she showed us she could do anything because the climate for women was changing. Journalist Lynn Sherr of ABC was there to cover the shuttle launches and the momentous occasion of Sally's first trip into space and was the fortunate to be only journalist given exclusive rights to interview Sally Ride.

Lynn has written a magnificent biography about Sally and Read Science! will be talking with her today on a Google Hangout on Air at noon EDT.


On supporting science journalism

If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.


You can join us at the google event page or just watch it at this video below.

You can ask questions at the event page. Hope to see you there!

Joanne Manaster is a university level cell and molecular biology lecturer with an insatiable passion for science outreach to all ages. Enjoy her quirky videos at www.joannelovesscience.com, on twitter @sciencegoddess and on her Facebook page at JoanneLovesScience

More by Joanne Manaster

Subscribe to Support Independent Journalism

Great science journalism requires human expertise, time, effort and creativity. And it costs money. That’s why I and the journalists here at Scientific American hope you’ll join our community.

When you subscribe, you are supporting staff and freelance journalists who are passionate about telling science stories that are true, important and compelling. Our editors and reporters are often experts in their fields, which means they understand the nuances of big discoveries and can untangle the breakthroughs from the hype. With a subscription, you are also supporting rigorous fact-checking to ensure the words we publish are precise and accurate. And you’re supporting original illustrations, graphics and photos that bring you closer to an advanced laboratory, an ice sheet in Antarctica or a space mission in orbit. You’re helping us craft other types of high-quality journalism as well: Our newsletters are carefully written, edited and curated by staffers you have or will come to know and love. Our Science Quickly podcast is based on original reporting, collaboration with editors and scientists and exacting production.

Subscriptions keep this engine running so we can continue to deliver thoughtful, rigorous and independent science journalism to you. In an era of viral misinformation, this work is crucial. If you value what we do, I hope you’ll consider joining us as a subscriber

Thank you,

Jeanna Bryner, Editor in Chief, Scientific American

Subscribe