Kathy Sullivan in space with Sally Ride.
( http://womenshistory.about.com/library/pic/bl_p_ride_sullivan.htm )
KATHY SULLIVAN: First American Woman to Walk in Space!
Born in Paterson, NJ in October of 1951, Kathy Sullivan considers Woodland Hills, CA, her hometown. She graduated from high school there in 1969, then attended the University of California, Santa Cruz, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Earth Science in 1973. As an exchange student, Kathy earned her doctorate in geology from Dalhousie, a university in Nova Scotia, in 1978.
Much of Dr. Sullivan's research prior to her selection as an astronaut was focused on geology and oceanography. She studied the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the Newfoundland Basin, and various fault zones off the coast of southern Calidornia. She became an oceanographer in the US Naval Reserve and earned the rank of lieutenant commander. In the meantime she earned a private pilot's license in both powered and glider aircraft.
Dr. Sullivan was selected with the first female astronaut group in 1978. She became the first american woman to walk in space on her first mission, STS-41G, when she and the mission commander successfully demonstrated the feasibility of refueling a sattelite in orbit. She flew two more missions, STS-31 and STS-45, and has logged 532 hours in space .