Sally Ride, astronaut and pioneer, returns to heaven.

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
7/24/2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Ride lost a battle to pancreatic cancer on Monday.

America lost a pioneering woman yesterday when Sally Ride, the first American woman into space, lost her battle to pancreatic cancer. She was just 61 years old. Sally Ride rocketed into the history books in 1983 aboard the space shuttle Challenger, and never looked back.

Sally Ride in front of the mission patch for STS-107 (Columbia). Ride served on the boards that investigated both the Challenger and Columbia accidents.

Facebook Delicous MySpace

Twitter Stumble Digg

More Destinations

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) -Upon word of her death, President Obama and NASA administrator Charles Bolden issued immediate statements.

"Sally was a national hero and a powerful role model," said Obama. "She inspired generations of young girls to reach for the stars."

Even that is an understatement. Sally Ride inspired an entire nation of men, women, and children to reach for the stars.

After joining NASA in 1978 and working in various capacities in the agency, Ride began her flying career with a trip aboard Challenger in 1983 as a mission specialist. She came home only to turn around and do a second mission aboard Challenger in 1984. She was preparing for a third mission when Challenger exploded in 1986. During the spaceflight hiatus in 1987, Ride left NASA to become a physics professor and director of the California Space Institute.

Sally Ride was 32 at the time of her first mission, making her the youngest American astronaut in space, even to this day.

In 2001, Sally Ride took a bold step for girls by founding Sally Ride Science, a program designed to inspire girls to achieve success in math and science. She also wrote and co-wrote several books aimed at encouraging children to study science.

Meanwhile, Ride served as an investigator in both the Challenger and Columbia accidents. She also advised President Obama in 2009 as he worked on setting tasks for NASA. Ride was not happy with the result however, complaining that it did not adequately fund the agency's exploration efforts.

Ride was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and fought the disease for 17 months before passing away on Monday. Sally ride has no children and is survived by her partner of 27 years, Tam O'Shaughnessy.

Following Rides' flight, a substantial number of women from several countries have flown into space aboard the shuttle. Women now make up a significant portion of the astronaut corps in several space faring nations. Most recently, China flew its first female astronaut, Liu Yang, 33. Yang returned to Earth on June 29.

Sally Ride remains an inspiration to a great many spaceflight and science enthusiasts, and her work and legacy will continue to inspire millions through the years to come. Ride is a member of several halls of fame including the National Women's Hall of Fame and the Astronaut Hall of Fame. Two elementary schools are named after her.

� 2012, Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.

- - -

Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Sally Ride, NASA, astronaut, pancreatic cancer, pioneer, Challeneger

NEWSLETTERS »

Rate This Article

Was this helpful to you? Very Helpful Somewhat Helpful Not Helpful at All

Would you be interested in more articles like this? Yes, I am Interested No, I am not Interested

Rate Article

1 - 4 of 4 Comments

Paul Coats
9 months ago
Her accomplishments are manifest. But which ones are even remotely qualifying for sainthood? You seriously need to reread your catechism.
Rosemary Gremillion
9 months ago
I am a little, more than a little confused by an "aside" on this page entitled and underlined "ads by Google". Underneath this title appear the following "go tos": "Catholic ads", "Catholic Church" & "Catholic Churches". Google has made no secret of its support of the LGBT(Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender)movement. I don't like to undercut anything that has ties to the Catholic Church, but I just do not understand this at all! Why is the Catholic Church using Google as an advertising vehicle? I am really upset about this. The Catholic Church has always been a "bastion of truth" for me, despite all the molestation scandals because the dogma of the Caholic Church does not support sexual molestation. The doctrine of the church is solid, although many of its members violate it(example: Catholic women using birth control). And then there's the matter of the right-thinking Caholic priest who correctly refused Holy Communion to a practicing lesbian. I am confused about the follow-up to that as well. Can someone clear this up for me. I really and truly love the Catholic Church, and I'd like some answers.
Pat
9 months ago
Are you serious?? Your obviously are not in line with what Christ teaches or our Holy Mother church.
How can you say Sally Ride, a good woman -YES, but she embraced a gay life style. I can't judge her but only know the Cath. church embraces the sinner but never the sin.

Further more, no one can even say Mother Theresa went to heaven. Chances are she is but reality is, only God knows that..
The best most of us can hope for is purgatory because only saints, the most perfect possible,- - are fit to be with our Lord in heaven's glory.
Purification in purgatory is what I aspire for at this pt. in my life. Aspiring to be as a saint is what is correct. But one mortal sin alone can prevent us from even reaching purgatory.
Our Lord is so PERFECT, (literally beyond human comprehension) therefore, it's understandable only saints will spend eternity with Him.
Patricia Termin
9 months ago
I so loved Sally Ride. She inspired those of us who were her age-mates as well as those who were younger. I tried a little harder and reached a little higher in my field. I took on non-traditional roles and felt myself an explorer in my way. I loved your headline. She has returned to heaven. Can we name a star after her?

Comments submitted must be civil, remain on-topic and not violate any laws including copyright. We reserve the right to delete any comments which are abusive, inappropriate or not constructive to the discussion.

Though we invite robust discussion, we reserve the right to not publish any comment which denigrates the human person, undermines marriage and the family, or advocates for positions which openly oppose the teaching of the Catholic Church.

This is a supervised forum and the Editors of Catholic Online retain the right to direct it.

We also reserve the right to block any commenter for repeated violations. Your email address is required to post, but it will not be published on the site.

We ask that you NOT post your comment more than once. Catholic Online is growing and our ability to review all comments sometimes results in a delay in their publication.

Name *

Email *

Comment *

Send me important information from Catholic Online and it's partners. See Sample

Post Comment