Ride, Sally Ride

Abstract

A strange paradox occurred in the summer of 1976. For nearly a year, no Americans had ventured into orbit; nor would they do so for at least another four years. The space ambitions of the United States were by no means directionless, but its 30-strong astronaut corps faced a crisis: no missions were available in the foreseeable future, yet more astronauts were urgently required. By the time the Shuttle entered operational service sometime in 1980, NASA optimistically hoped that missions would be launching as often as once every fortnight.