Sally
Award-winning documentarian Cristina Costantini directs this peek into the personal life of Sally Ride, the first woman in space. But as Ride journeyed among the stars, she kept a nearly three-decade romance with author and tennis player Tam O’Shaughnessy a secret.
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Known as “MS2” at NASA, Sally Ride made history as America’s first woman in space aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger on the STS-7 mission in 1983. A trailblazer and role model, she became one of the most celebrated astronauts of her time. Yet behind her public persona, Sally had a secret—one that wasn’t revealed until her obituary. For 27 years, she shared a committed, long-term relationship with Tam O’Shaughnessy, a woman she met when they were teenagers.
In Sally, Tam takes us through their shared journey, from their first meeting to Sally's groundbreaking career as an astronaut, to when they became romantically involved. And later when they together co-founded and worked together on Sally Ride Science, an organization dedicated to inspiring young girls in STEM. The documentary paints a poignant portrait of a woman who achieved incredible heights professionally but, due to the societal pressures of her time, was unable to be open about her sexuality, even with her closest family and colleagues.
Through interviews, archival footage of Sally’s historic space missions, and candid reflections from friends like Billie Jean King, SALLY offers an intimate look at a powerful woman who changed the landscape of NASA and inspired countless people, all while navigating the complexities of her personal life.
- Director: Cristina Costantini
- Country: USA
- Year: 2025
- Running Time: 103 min.
- Producer: Lauren Cioffi, Cristina Costantini, Dan Cogan, Jon Bardin
- Cinematographers: Michael Latham
- Editors: Kate Hackett, Andy McAllister
- Music: Jeff Morrow
- Awards: Sundance Film Festival 2025 (Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Award)
- Filmography: Mucho Mucho Amor: The Legend of Walter Mercado (2020), Science Fair (2018)
- Language: English
- Format: DCP
- US Distributor: National Geographic Documentary Films