Sally Ride, first US woman in space, has died

[obamanut2012]

From pancreatic cancer. I remember her first flight.

http://news.yahoo.com/sally-ride-first-us-woman-space-dead-61-212809122.html

Please excuse me being a bit sentimental and posting a poem written about the death of fighter pilots during WWI. I think it's appropriate here.

High Flight by John Magee



Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

Sunwards I’ve climbed and joined the tumbling mirth

Of sun-split clouds – and done a thousand things

You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung

High in the sunlit silence. Hovering there,

I’ve chased the shouting wind along and flung

My eager craft through footless halls of air,

Up, up the long delirious burning blue

I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace,

Where never lark, or even eagle, flew;

And, while with silent, lifting mind I’ve trod

The high untrespassed sanctity of space,

Put out my hand, and touched the face of god.

[Starry Messenger]

1. Oh no!

I remember when she first went into space. Very sad news.

[maddezmom]

2. Beautiful poem

such sad news.

[Gormy Cuss]

3. Sally Ride, who showed girls that they too can be astronauts....

RIP.

[kdmorris]

4. I wanted to be an astronaut

and was told girls didn't become astronauts. Had I known about her when I was 9... oh, the wonders I would have known!

RIP, Ms. Ride. You were a hero to so many of us girls!

[obamanut2012]

5. Dr. Ride left a partner of 27 years behind

That partner will not get Dr. Ride's Federal benefits. Social Security, pension, government healthcare.

Just an additional comment.

[Starry Messenger]

6. Absolutely shameful.

A woman can be a national heroine and icon and still her life of sacrifice and anything she earned will not go to the one she loved.

[xmas74]

8. That's just so wrong.

It's just wrong that her partner will not receive her benefits.

[kdmorris]

10. Yeah, that part is just wrong

Tam deserves better.

[Warren DeMontague]

7. Rest In Peace

[Rowdyboy]

9. Thank you for posting this....

I've already shared it with a friend.

[Warren DeMontague]

11. I hope they memorialize her somehow with the Curiosity Rover landing.

NASA's pretty good about that sort of thing. I have no doubt she'll end up a major Martian Landmark.