Sally Ride, first U.S. woman in space, dies at 61

July 23, 2012 - 7:59 pm | Category: National

Sally Ride, who became the American first woman in space in June 1983, died today
 of pancreatic cancer. She was 61.

At age 32, Ride was part of the crew of Space Shuttle Challenger when it launched on June 18th, 1983. With her expertise as a physicist, she was instrumental in developing a robotic arm on the shuttle.

After retiring from NASA in 1987, she had a stint at the Stanford University Center for International Security and Arms Control and later worked as a professor of physics at the University of California, San Diego and served as director of the California Space Institute. She also founded Sally Ride Science, a San Diego-based company that provides classroom materials, programs and professional help for teachers at elementary, middle and high schools.

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said, “The nation has lost one of its finest leaders, teachers and explorers.”

Ride is survived by her partner of 27 years, Tam O’Shaughnessy; her mother, Joyce; and her sister, Bear.