Picture Tribute: First Female NASA Astronaut Sally Ride
- Posted on July 24, 2012 at 8:26am by
Liz Klimas
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The first American, female astronaut, Sally Ride, died on Monday of pancreatic cancer at 61 years old.
Although the astronaut’s ex-husband, Steve Hawley, said that her “very public persona” was a “role in which she was never fully comfortable,” Ride has left a legacy of inspiring women to enter the scientific and space fields.
“While she never enjoyed being a celebrity, she recognized that it gave her the opportunity to encourage children, particularly young girls, to reach their full potential,” Hawley said in a statement.
Ride was encouraging and highly supportive when astronaut Eileen Collins became the first female shuttle pilot and, consequently, commander back in the 1990s.
Collins was among the young women inspired by Ride’s courageous journey and, like so many others, were stunned to learn of her death.
“Sally left us too soon,” Collins said in a statement put out by NASA. “God Speed Sally, you will be greatly missed.”
Below are pictures of Ride through the years.
Ride with the Space Shuttle Challenger Crew in 1983. (Photo: AFP/Getty Images)
Ride with crewmates in space aboard the shuttle. (Photo: NASA via Sally Ride Science)
One of Ride's official headshots for NASA. (Photo: AFP/Getty Images)
(Photo: NASA via Sally Ride Science)
Ride aboard Challenger in 1983. (Photo: Wikimedia)
(Photo: Wikimedia)
Ride flew twice into space on the Challenger space shuttle. On those missions, she spent a total of just over 14 days in space.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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bankerpapaw
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 5:22pmWe will miss you, Sally.
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 2:53pmShe is a great American and has my respect for her personal achievements not only as a woman but just as a person who worked hard, possessed a great intelligence to move forward in her field. I however disagree with her lifestyle but that does not make me any better than her in anyway. I too am a sinner! I hope God will know her heart and accept her into the Kingdom prepared for us all, but we must first accept that we are sinners and in need of forgiveness which can only be provided by Gods redeemer…Jesus!
Report Post »Verceofreason
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 9:01pmSally was not a sinner.
Report Post »In a 27 relationship.
Get over it.
adeleeeee
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 9:55pmShe and her partner campaign about global warming. So her accomplishment will be stained by it.
This tells me we all will die but just a matter of time…
Report Post »Verceofreason
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 1:02pmApparent my post about the lesbian who had epithets carved into her stomach was deemed, what
Report Post »inappropriate as a reply to EQUALJUSTICE?
johnniereb
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 10:54amRide, Sally, Ride. May you rest in peace. You were an inspiration to many..
Report Post »SolitudeBliss
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 10:36amI was a teenager when the Space Shuttle program began. I would keep journals and newspaper clippings. Dr. Sally Ride was a role model and inspiration to not only young US Women but to Women around the world.
Thank You, Dr. Ride……Happy Journey………The Whole Universe Awaits You……
Report Post »Temporal
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 10:35amYeah, just ignore the PHD in physics she earned prior to being selected for the astronaut program. As a payload specialist, Dr. Ride was highly qualified.
How can we oppose politically correct hiring quotas and then pretend that an otherwise qualified individual should be excluded on the same grounds?
We may not approve of her lifestyle, but should we then exclude every male jock pilot who didn’t remain chaste until marriage?
As standard isn’t a standard unless it applies equally.
Report Post »Verceofreason
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 9:03pmNo one wants YOUR approval.
Report Post »Get over yourselves.
Verceofreason
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 10:00amYou are all aware, Ms. Ride was also an out lesbian.
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 10:15amWho cares. She wasn’t a gay “activist” and she kept to herself with her ‘partner’ of 27 years. I don’t really CARE what others do in their bedrooms with another consenting adult. She encouraged young women to explore science and she was the first female astornaut. THAT will be her legacy!
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 12:01pmOf course she’s a lesbian. As NASA spun itself from the ‘60 as an engineering based agency spending billions to get a box of moon rocks,to the enviro-nut global warming Commie-Socialist P.C. stage it is today, a lesbian astronaut would be mandatory to please not just one, but two groups. Think of it as a multi-colored flag Title 9 government experiment.
Report Post »VastRightWingConspirator
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 12:59pmAs a Christian I understand that the lifestyle is considered sin. As a heterosexual I don’t understand the desire to be gay and I consider it abnormal. That said, Are you indicating that homosexuals shouldn’t be allowed to be astronauts? What else are they not allowed to be in your world? Or, are they just not allowed to be celebrated for great achievements? This woman broke down boundaries and, by all reports, was excellent at her job. Her sexual preference is irrelevant in this discussion. As long as she wasn’t using her position as a launch pad for same sex marriage what does it matter? Just like Ellen making commercials, has she ever used one to promote homosexuality? Quit making issues out of someone’s personal and “private” choices and we might be able to win on the big issues when they use their choices to try and force their agendas down our throats.
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 9:54amGod rest your soul Sally. A true hero of American tokenism. A hero to women who achieve thanks to congressional legislation and political correctism.
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