Monday, July 23, 2012

Trailblazer Sally Ride Dead: First US Woman In Space

She was the first American woman in space.
She was fearless, human, engaging, memorable.
And she was a genuine trailblazer.
She opened the door for so many others to follow.
Her name was Sally Ride.
Yes, in 1983, Sally Ride became the first American woman in space. She blasted off aboard Challenger, culminating a long journey that started in 1977 when the Ph.D candidate answered an ad seeking astronauts for NASA missions.
Sally Ride died today in La Jolla, Calif. after a 17-month battle with pancreatic cancer. This was announced on her company's website.
According to her official biography, by the time Ride decided to apply to become an astronaut, she had already received degrees in physics and English and was on her way to a Ph.D in physics from Standford University.
Her story is phenomenal -- a uniquely American story of courage, determination and inspiration.

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