<p>Sally Ride made history when she became the first woman from the U.S. to reach orbit aboard Space Shuttle Challenger in 1983. I remember watching this as if it was yesterday. <a href=“http://mashable.com/2012/07/23/sally-ride-dies/[/url]”>http://mashable.com/2012/07/23/sally-ride-dies/</a></p>
<p>It looks like it was pancreatic cancer.</p>
<p>Oh, no! That makes me so sad. I hadn’t heard she was ill. She was one of my role models - I was a (female) junior in engineering school in 1983.</p>
<p>She broke many barriers. She was also the youngest American in space at that time. R.I.P.</p>
<p>OH this is a shock. She was only 61. Too sad.</p>
<p>Sally Ride inspired many young women to consider STEM fields. I thought she was very understated and modest. She will be missed.</p>
<p>She was my idol. My D and I met her about 10 years ago when she was doing the 'Sally Ride Science Fairs" around the country. She was such a geniune and nice person. D was 10 years old at the time, and asked her “What did you like most about being in space?” Her answer “It was really cool!!”</p>
<p>Rest in peace.</p>
<p>She was one of my idols, too. Oh, so sad! I had no idea she was so ill.</p>
<p>So sad. May she rest in peace. I didn’t know she was ill, either.</p>
<p>This is so sad. Sally Ride was such an inspiration for young women.</p>
<p>So sad :(. I met her a decade-ish ago at the Sally Ride thing for young women (I can’t remember what it’s called). She seemed to genuinely care about every person who came to talk to her. RIP.</p>
<p>Ride, Sally, ride.</p>
<p>The obituaries are disclosing that she had a lesbian partner of 27 years, but always kept the relationship private. I’m the same age, and understand that given the era in which she grew up, it would have been a difficult step to come out publicly, but it’s rather a shame that she didn’t take her place as a role model in that area. too. Maybe she will be now.</p>
<p>I was surprised to hear of this on the news tonight. She was a courageous woman and an inspiration. How terrible that she could blaze a path into space but had to keep her love for her partner a secret- it was alright for her to risk her life while wearing the American flag, but not permissible for her to be whom she really was. My thoughts are with her partner…</p>
<p>My D got to meet her when she was in around 3rd or 4th grade (my D not Ms. Ride). Ms. Ride autographed a Time Magazine for her. My D was in love with Sally Ride for years. </p>
<p>RIP Ms. Ride.</p>
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<p>And because of DOMA, her partner will be denied federal spousal death benefits that straight partners receive. Not to make this political, but that’s a fact.</p>
<p>My prediction: DOMA will be struck down by the Supreme Court in the next year.</p>
<p>I did not know her sexual orientation, nor does it mater one iota (except for the denial of benefitss to her partner-- thats awful). She will be missed.</p>
<p>One of the first e worries that came to mind was whether or not her partner was allowed by her side at the end.</p>