Not only countries like Canada are paying tribute to space exploration with their currency, but also other countries. The US Mint unveiled the first coins of its American Women Quarters Program. One of the coins features Dr. Sally Ride (the first American woman astronaut). As she loved to look down at Earth during her spare time aboard the Space Shuttle, Ride is depicted on the quarter.
These quarters will be available between 2022-2025. Other quarters honor women who have pushed cultural and politically boundaries like Wilma Mankiller (an advocate of Native American and women’s rights), Maya Angelou (the acclaimed author), Nina Otero Warren (a New Mexico suffrage leader), and Anna May Wong, the first Chinese-American Hollywood star).
Ride's place is well-established in American history. Ride is best known for breaking NASA's gender barrier in 1983 with her first Space Shuttle flight. However, she also established the Office of Exploration and led the California Space Institute. She was also key in investigating the Columbia and Challenger disasters. She encouraged interest in space by girls and children in general. Ride was also the first lesbian to travel into space. Ride will be remembered for her quarter-century of influence in spaceflight and on society as a whole.
