(Photos courtesy of National Geographic)
Written by Colleen Bement, Editor
Meet the woman behind the astronaut
Following a standout Sundance world premiere, National Geographic Documentary Films unveiled the trailer for their exciting documentary film “Sally.” This takes me back to my teen years when I closely followed NASA’s space program, and was thrilled to watch Sally Ride launch into space from my living room TV. To put this into perspective, it was just a few years prior that women were even allowed to open their own bank accounts. This was groundbreaking! Thank you, National Geographic, for making a film that honors the life of Sally Ride, the first American woman to travel to space. The film will delve into the life of the first female astronaut and her extraordinary legacy.
“Sally” enjoyed its world premiere at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and was awarded the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Feature Film Prize. The film continues to garner praise and acclaim, with critics calling it an overwhelming triumph, inspiring, and long overdue. Most recently, it screened at the San Francisco International Film Festival, SXSW, True/False, the International Festival of Science Documentary Films in the Czech Republic, Miami International Film Festival, and Milwaukee Film Festival, among others. The film’s release on National Geographic, Disney+ and Hulu is timed to the anniversary of Sally Ride’s spaceflight, which took place on June 18, 1983.
Director Cristina Costantini said, I can’t recall the exact moment that Sally Ride first captured my imagination, but I know that I’ve been obsessed with her story from a very young age. I was drawn to telling the story of a trailblazing woman fighting for respect in a male-dominated world. But above all, I wanted to explore the beautiful, unknown love story between Sally and Tam O’Shaughnessy. Their enduring relationship was kept secret from the public for 27 long years. Our film celebrates the Sally we all knew through her accomplishments and, for the first time, pays homage to the one we never could know.
Sally Ride became the first American woman to blast off into space, but beneath her unflappable composure, she carried a secret. Revealing the romance and sacrifices of their 27 years together, Sally’s life partner, Tam O’Shaughnessy, tells the full story of this complicated and iconic astronaut for the first time. The film features interviews with tennis champion and close friend to Ride, Billie Jean King; Sally’s sister, Bear Ride; and mother, Carol Joyce Ride, along with additional members of NASA’s class of 1978: Anna Fisher, Kathy Sullivan, John Fabian and Steve Hawley.
Sally was a true pioneer—a hero who shattered barriers for girls and women and redefined what it means to be a leader,” said film participant and executive producer Tam O’Shaughnessy, Ride’s life partner. “I want the world to see Sally for who she truly was: passionate, private, ambitious, brave, funny, loyal, comfortable in her own skin and, above all, full of love. Our relationship was unique and transformative, and it deeply shaped both of our lives. It was important to me that this film not only celebrate Sally’s legacy but also share the story of our bond. I’m forever grateful to Cristina Costantini, National Geographic Documentary Films, Story Syndicate, and the entire team for bringing this story to life, one that couldn’t be told until now and is more relevant than ever.
“Sally” will premiere on National Geographic on June 16th and will stream on Disney+ and Hulu on June 17th. Check out the trailer.
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