Sally Ride’s Personal Life and Legacy Explored in New Documentary
A new and emotional documentary called Sally shares a closer look at the life of Sally Ride, who became the first American woman to travel into space. The film had its debut at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival and is set to air on National Geographic on June 16. It will also be available to stream on Disney+ and Hulu starting June 17.
Sally Ride’s journey wasn’t just about reaching for the stars, it was about breaking barriers and redefining what’s possible. #SALLYfilm offers an exclusive glimpse into the life of the woman who changed space travel forever.
— National Geographic Documentary Films (@natgeodocs) May 1, 2025
Premieres June 16 at 9/8c on @natgeotv. Streaming… pic.twitter.com/EDAppLttAZ
Directed by Cristina Costantini, Sally shares more than Ride’s achievements at NASA. It also explores her personal life, including her 27-year relationship with her partner Tam O’Shaughnessy.
This part of her story remained hidden until shortly before her death in 2012. Just ten days before she passed away, Ride gave O’Shaughnessy permission to share their story with the world.
The film uses a mix of personal memories, re-creations, and rare footage to show the challenges Sally Ride faced during her career.
As a woman in a male-dominated field, she experienced both sexism and pressure to keep her private life out of the spotlight. She kept her romantic relationship with O’Shaughnessy private because of the fear of being judged or losing her place in NASA.
Narrated by O’Shaughnessy herself, the documentary gives a personal view of Ride’s life, not only as a scientist and astronaut but also as someone who had to live a part of her life in silence.
It shows her as a strong, smart, and deeply human figure, someone who wanted to inspire others while protecting her own privacy.
The film has been well received and was honored with the Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. It’s not just about space—it also tells a touching story of bravery, love, and the struggles of keeping personal truths hidden.
Ride’s legacy continues today through Sally Ride Science, an organization she co-founded to encourage young people, especially girls, to get involved in science and technology. It’s now based at the University of California, San Diego, and continues to offer educational programs and resources to help the next generation of scientists.
From space missions to science education, and now with this honest and heartfelt film, Sally Ride remains a powerful symbol of strength, integrity, and progress.
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