RIP - Sally Ride - first American woman in space

  • Thread starter Astronuc
  • Start date
  • Tags
    Rip Space
In summary: Ride and O'Shaughnessy met while they were both working at the University of California, San Diego, and they married in 1984. They had two children, Tam O'Shaughnessy and Christina Ride.In summary, Sally Ride, the first American woman to journey into space, died on Monday after a 17-month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was only 61. Her wife, Tam O'Shaughnessy, is taking care of her foundation and her children.
  • #1
Astronuc
Staff Emeritus
Science Advisor
2023 Award
21,910
6,335
Sally Ride, the first American woman to journey into space, died on Monday after a 17-month battle with pancreatic cancer, her foundation announced. She was [only] 61.

Ride first launched into space in 1983 aboard the Challenger shuttle, taking part in the seventh mission of US space shuttle program.
:frown:

http://news.yahoo.com/sally-ride-first-us-woman-space-dead-61-212809122.html
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Astronomy news on Phys.org
  • #2
:(

(PF's getting mad at me for too short a message. =P )
 
  • #3
Ride, Sally Ride. RIP. I always like her name, being a musician. :cry:

Pancreatic cancer can be insidious and hard to treat (my bother-in-law died from it). He lived long enough to see his 4 kids graduate from HS, and then it roared back and spread everywhere and took him down in short order.
 
  • #4
RIP, Dr Ride!
 
  • #5
I am sure she inspired so many young woman to dream of being scientists. Rest In Peace Sally.
 
  • #6
Good night, and god speed Dr. Ride.

And thank you for introducing the big space hair look.

It always made me smile. :smile:

http://abcnewsradioonline.com/storage/news-images/Getty_072312_SallyRide.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1343078653203​
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #7
Perhaps as sad as her death itself is some of the crap surrounding it. I just heard on "Inner Space" that her wife might be denied benefits because of some idiotic policy about same-sex couples. It's always nice to see how the USA treats its heros if they don't conform.
 
  • #8
Danger said:
Perhaps as sad as her death itself is some of the crap surrounding it. I just heard on "Inner Space" that her wife might be denied benefits because of some idiotic policy about same-sex couples. It's always nice to see how the USA treats its heros if they don't conform.

:grumpy: Well that's just stupid, and just days after the first progressive marriage on a military base.

But I never even knew she had a girlfriend.

Her wife sounds nice.

O'Shaughnessy, a professor emerita of school psychology at San Diego State University, is also chief operating officer and executive vice president of Ride's foundation, Sally Ride Science, where the duo and their staff nurtured young students and worked to encourage them to pursue their passions in science, technology, engineering and math.

Like Ride, O'Shaughnessy was interested in science from a very young age, and "one of her favorite childhood memories is of watching tadpoles in a creek gradually sprout legs, go green and turn into frogs," according to her bio on the Sally Ride Science website.
 

1. Who was Sally Ride?

Sally Ride was an American astronaut and physicist. She was the first American woman in space, as well as the youngest American astronaut to have traveled to space at the age of 32. She flew on two space missions for NASA and was a pioneer for women in the field of space exploration.

2. When did Sally Ride go to space?

Sally Ride went to space on June 18, 1983, as a crew member of the space shuttle Challenger on its STS-7 mission, becoming the first American woman in space. She also went on a second space flight in 1984, making her the only woman to have flown on both the Challenger and the Columbia shuttles.

3. What was Sally Ride's role in the space shuttle missions?

Sally Ride served as a mission specialist on both of her space flights. During her missions, she operated the shuttle's robotic arm and conducted various experiments related to materials processing, Earth observations, and satellite deployment.

4. What were Sally Ride's contributions to science and space exploration?

Sally Ride's contributions to science and space exploration were significant. She conducted groundbreaking research on astrophysics, solar physics, and the interaction between the solar wind and Earth's magnetosphere. She was also a strong advocate for science education and inspired many young girls to pursue careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).

5. How did Sally Ride's legacy impact the future of space exploration?

Sally Ride's legacy continues to impact the future of space exploration. She broke barriers for women in the field and inspired many to pursue careers in STEM, especially in the field of space exploration. Her contributions to science and her advocacy for education have also paved the way for future advancements in space technology and research.

Similar threads

RIP Gene Cernan, last astronaut on the moon
    • Aerospace Engineering
Replies
3
Views
1K
Could women be better suited for long distance space travel?
    • Astronomy and Astrophysics
2
Replies
48
Views
12K
Why do astronauts describe the smell of space as strong, metallic, and unique?
    • Cosmology
Replies
10
Views
3K
What are some lesser-known space programs around the world?
    • Astronomy and Astrophysics
Replies
4
Views
3K
News What were the top issues in the 2008 presidential election?
    • General Discussion
3
Replies
82
Views
18K
48 Nobel Prize Winners slam Bush
    • General Discussion
Replies
10
Views
3K
Mathematica This Week's Finds in Mathematical Physics (Week 247)
    • MATLAB, Maple, Mathematica, LaTeX
Replies
1
Views
3K
Iraq War: Cold cut argument.
    • General Discussion
Replies
5
Views
2K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top