Do You Remember Sally Ride?

Updated on July 23, 2012
A.W. asks from Saint Charles, IL
10 answers

Sally Ride was the 1st American woman to go into space. I was about 6 years old when that happened and I remember thinking that she was a rock star- I so wanted to be her! Does anyone else remember her or watching the Challenger launch? I remember it being such a big deal in our house. Anyway- I read she died today from cancer and it brought back some memories. RIP Sally- you were a legend.

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So What Happened?

Yeah, I was so sad to read about her death today. 61 is not old but man, what a life!
Riley- I remember watching the Challenger explosion during a school assembly too. The teachers fell over themselves they were in such a hurry to turn it off. I never thought of it but what you said about it being the death of the space craze clicks. I don't remember anything about shuttle launches or the space program being celebrated much after that. I remember being enthralled with Sally and the teacher who died in the explosion but after that... I don't remember ever being excited about another astronaut or the space program. Same for my friends. Sad.
Divine- how awesome for you to be kind of a pioneer for women in your field. You are a rock star too. Women like you and Sally paved the way for so many young women. That was part of why I thought Sally was so cool. She showed young girls that we can do anything men can do and that if you work hard you can do whatever you want. I read today that she applied to NASA when they first opened up the application process to civilians and she was one of 35 people to be chosen out of 8,000 and 1 of 6 women. Crazy awesome!
Cheryl- yeah- can you imagine not only going into space but being the woman who opened it up to countless of other women?! I keep saying- rock star!

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R.J.

answers from Seattle on

Absolutely.

Although I mostly remember the Challenger explosion.

That was the last time any of my schools did school wide assemblies of live launches.

From a historical perspective, I wonder if that sparked the death of the space program. Without kids screaming for it, their parents trying to fulfill that, long work weeks, imaginary heros instead of real ones... I could be reading too much into it. I don't know enough snout it to have an informed opinion. But I wonder if the space program died in the 84/85 school year, when kids quit watching.

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S.E.

answers from Philadelphia on

Gads I am old. I was in college and was SO inspired by her. And of course when I heard she died I was so shocked. "But, she can't be that old!", I said.

61 is younger than it used to be...

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T.M.

answers from Redding on

Yeah, I remember very well. She died young, but heck, none of us can say we got to go into space. She had a blessed life.

Updated

Yeah, I remember very well. She died young, but heck, none of us can say we got to go into space. She had a blessed life.

3 moms found this helpful

T.N.

answers from Albany on

Of course, we watched it live on TV in school. Ok, 1983 then, geez. 61 is too young. A great lady indeed!

:)

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E.F.

answers from Kalamazoo on

I remember! She rocked my childhood, too! Incredible woman, from what I learned of (and from) her.

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V.C.

answers from Dallas on

I was working as an engineer when she went into space. There weren't many women doing either of those things then, so I was very proud of her.
If it turns out she had the same kind of cancer as Steve Jobs (neuroendocrine) then I hope it helps to get the word out about it.

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M.J.

answers from Sacramento on

Yes! I was a teenager when she went into space. It really made me feel like women could do anything! Amazing woman, amazing life. So unfair she ended up with pancreatic cancer ... that is a really horrible one.

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D..

answers from Charlotte on

I just saw that when I came on line a little bit ago. I didn't even know that she had cancer. Bless her heart - yes, RIP Sally~

Dawn

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C.O.

answers from Washington DC on

yeah. I saw that and posted on my Facebook wall. How sad!!

She died after a 17month battle with pancreatic cancer.

How cool was it to be her? The first W. in space?!?!?!

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☆.A.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I remember that.
I was sad when I heard of her death today on the news.
A pioneer!
She died of pancreatic cancer at 61.

1 mom found this helpful
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