The first American woman in space was Sally RIDE, who took a RIDE on the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1983. She was the first American woman to fly in space and the youngest American astronaut at the time. She was part of the crew of five astronauts who launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. During her mission, she conducted experiments in the fields of robotics and Earth observation. She also served as a mission specialist, helping to deploy two satellites. After her mission, she continued to work for NASA, serving on the Rogers Commission which investigated the Challenger disaster. She also wrote several books about her experiences in space.