FIRST AMERICAN WOMAN IN SPACE - DR. SALLY RIDE DIES............

Dr. Sally Ride, who broke the gender barrier in the American Space program, making history as a member of the crew of the Challenger Space Shuttle in 1983, has succumbed to pancreatic cancer, after a seventeen month struggle with the disease.  She was 61 years old.  Her passing was confirmed by, "Sally Ride Science", the educational company founded by the former astronaut following her retirement from NASA, the National Aeronautics Space Agency.  Sally Ride was not the first woman in space, but the first American female, twenty years after the first Russian woman cosmonaut went in space in 1963.  Dr. Ride made two spaceflights on the Challenger Shuttle, the second in 1984, before subsequently retiring from NASA in 1987.  For several years following her affiliation with NASA, she was a Director at the California Space Institute, where she also taught as a Physics Professor, before founding, "Sally Ride Science", her company dedicated to furthering the education of girls by expanding teaching them Math and Science.  Among her other contributions to the exploration of Space were her membership on the Independent Investigative Commission that led the review of the 2003 Space Shuttle Columbia, explosion; and on the panel that prepared policy options on further Space exploration in 2009, for the Obama Administration.  When the Obama White House cancelled the Constellation program, which planned to return Americans to the Moon, and instead set its sights on a future landing on Mars, Sally Ride was critical of the decision saying, "This vudget is simply nor friendly to exploration.  It is very difficult to find am exploration scenario that actually fits within this very restrictive budget guidance that we have been given".  The current leadership of NASA, Administrator Charles Bolden said today, "Sally Ride broke barriers with grace and professionalism - and literally changed the face of America's Space Program.  The nation has lost one of its finest leaders, teachers, and explorers...She will be missed, but her star will always shine brightly".  NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver noted that Sally Ride was, "a personal and professional rolev model to me and thousands of women around the World".  The President and First Lady also issued a statement paying tribute to Dr. Ride, saying, "As the first American woman to travel inton Space, Sally was a national hero and a powerful role model.  She inspired generations of girls to reach for the stars, and later fought tirelessly to help them get there by advocating for greater focus on Science and Math in our schools.  Sally's life showed us that there are no limits to what we can achieve, and I have no doubt her legacy will endure for years to come".  Dr. Sally Ride will surely be remembered as a pioneer in Space and an outstanding promoter of inclusive and evermore effective expansion of learning in Mathematics and Science.  May her contribution continue to inspire this and succeeding generations to boldly reach new horizons, just as she did at age 32 in 1983, when she became the youngest person to travel in Space............Fr.  Troy