Sally Ride - 1st US Woman in Space, dead at 61

[ucfgrad93]

I didn't know she had cancer. RIP

Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, has died of cancer at age 61, her organization has announced.

On June 18, 1983, Ride was 32 when she launched aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger.

Ride, a physicist, helped develop the shuttle's robotic arm.

She was one of 8,000 people who responded to a newspaper advertisement seeking NASA applicants. She joined the space agency in 1978 and left in 1987.

http://content.usatoday.com/communi...t-us-woman-in-space-dies-at-61/1#.UA3Ep47Ysmk

 

[iJohnHenry]

I didn't know she had cancer. RIP

Oooo, same Cancer as Steve. That's a nasty one.

 

[jnpy!$4g3cwk]

Sally Ride (May 26, 1951 – July 23, 2012)

Sally Ride had a long list of accomplishments, but, I think the biggest was heading the strategic planning effort that wrote the "Ride Report" -- that brought us Mission to Planet Earth and the EOS satellites.

Following a number of studies, in 1987 the “Ride Report” on Leadership and America’s Future in Space recommended that NASA adopt a Mission to Planet Earth as one of its four overriding themes. The centerpiece of Mission to Planet Earth was to be the Earth Observing System. Originally envisioned as a $17 billion program over 10 years, it was scaled back to $11 billion and then $8 billion in 1992. After much rescoping and reshaping of the program, in 1999 Terra, the first of three flagship polar-orbiting spacecraft was launched. It was followed by Aqua in 2002 and Aura in 2004.

http://www.nasa.gov/50th/50th_magazine/historyLetter.html

You wouldn't think heading a planning effort could be that big an accomplishment, but, without these satellite resources, we would be groping in the dark to understand the nature and scale of global environmental changes that are taking place.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Observing_System

 

[Dr McKay]

Ride, Sally Ride.

 

[Macman45]

Very sad, I just don't know where the time goes either 61? I guess I just picture her as forever young. Too young to go.

 

[Queso]

Awful shame. Obviously we are probably more aware of pancreatic cancer than the general population. It's a nasty way to go, and an end someone who achieved so much deserved better than. RIP Sally.

Oh, and just in case the media try and airbrush this part out of the narrative...Sally Ride is survived by her female partner, Tam O’Shaughnessy.

 

[iJohnHenry]

Sally's life partner is going to be stiffed by the Feds. Source for quote.

Many Tweeps paid their respects to the pioneer but also voiced concern that Tam O’Shaughnessy, Ride’s partner of 27 years, would be denied federal benefits because the couple was not legally married.

Tweets read, “Sally Ride died today, after a long battle w cancer, leaving a female partner few knew she had,” “Mitt Romney paid tribute to Sally Ride, but neglected to mention her female partner of 27 years or the federal benefits she will be denied” and “Astronaut Sally Ride went to space for her country, but her country won't recognize her decades-long female partner due to #DOMA. #lgbt.”

 

[Queso]

Sally's life partner is going to be stiffed by the Feds. Source for quote.

My heart really goes out to Ms O'Shaughnessy. Imagine going through the loss of your life partner in such tragic circumstances, and having this additional burden placed upon you.

27 years they were together. That's about 8 marriage in Gingrich Time.

 

[GoCubsGo]

Sally's life partner is going to be stiffed by the Feds. Source for quote.

That is absolutely ridiculous. This country kills me sometimes. They lasted longer than many couples.