FARK.com: (7228750) American space pioneer Sally Ride has taken her final flight

If you can read this, either the style sheet didn't load or you have an older browser that doesn't support style sheets. Try clearing your browser cache and refreshing the page.

		American space pioneer Sally Ride has taken her final flight (abclocal.go.com)		73
		More: Sad

• • •

10744 clicks; posted to Main » on 23 Jul 2012 at 6:33 PM | Favorite | share:

Share this link:

URL:

http://fark.com/go/7228750

Bookmark:

Article Comments close

Voting Results (Smartest)

View Voting Results: Smartest and Funniest

Redisplay/refresh voting results (Smartest or Funniest) or Return to comments

Archived thread

wjmorris3		2012-07-23 07:33:57 PM

6 votes:

You know, thanks to our brilliant government, there's no survivor benefits here. This needs to change.

wjmorris3		2012-07-23 06:39:09 PM

5 votes:

The first woman in space has loosed the surly bonds of earth and touched the face of God. RIP

Ed Finnerty		2012-07-23 06:36:52 PM

5 votes:

Good night, space lady.

You saw more with your own eyes than 99.9% of us ever will.

sleeping martyr		2012-07-23 06:36:48 PM

5 votes:

How doth the hero strong and brave,
A celestial path in the heavens pave.

Go, Sally, Go

evaned		2012-07-23 06:41:58 PM

4 votes:

wjmorris3: The first woman in space has loosed the surly bonds of earth and touched the face of God. RIP

First US woman.

The first woman was cosmanut Valentina Tereshkova, who beat Sally Ride into space by two decades. (June 16, 1963 vs June 18, 1983.)

Nem Wan		2012-07-23 11:14:50 PM

3 votes:

bim1154: cedarpark: I thought she died in the Challenger accident in the 80s.

At least she'll have elementary schools named after her.

If memory serves me right, I think she was involved in the investigation of the Challenger accident afterwards.

Sally Ride was the only person who served on both the Challenger and Columbia investigation boards. I believe the caption of this picture is, "Not this shiat again."
caib.nasa.gov

blueyd1		2012-07-23 10:17:17 PM

3 votes:

For the 2010 Global Engineering Marathon, I had the pleasure of working with Dr. Ride as she granted our company the pleasure of working with us to present to more than 120 middle school girls from the Chicago area about her experiences and the importance of needing women in the STEM fields.

She was amazing and the girls were completely inspired. Her portion starts around 18:40
/thank you, Sally

Bad Dad Why		2012-07-23 07:26:43 PM

3 votes:

At my one Rainbow Gathering of the Tribes I went to in Missouri, she came and spoke to us. "I see the flower of youth here, all these kids with great possibilities. What are you doing? Trying to get high. All I hear is - got any pot. Oh, you are also trying to get laid. Please work on fixing the worlds problems"

Craptastic		2012-07-23 07:20:37 PM

3 votes:

Safe passage, Sally. You were an inspiration to many.

RickN99		2012-07-23 06:57:00 PM

3 votes:

suthrnrunt: wjmorris3: The first woman in space has loosed the surly bonds of earth and touched the face of God. RIP

huh

High Flight
by John Gillespie Magee, Jr.

Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds...and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of...wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring 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 windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, nor 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.

DanZero		2012-07-23 06:45:32 PM

3 votes:

RIP RIDE SALLY RIDE

voran		2012-07-23 06:44:09 PM

3 votes:

Huh, had no idea she was a lesbian. Doesn't make a difference tho, she's still (or was) awesome.

evaned		2012-07-23 06:38:18 PM

3 votes:

That bites.

Still, I was hoping for the headline "Sally Rode".

FriarReb98		2012-07-23 05:37:48 PM

3 votes:

exick: After retiring from NASA, Sally used her high profile to champion a cause she believed in passionately--inspiring young people, especially girls, to stick with their interest in science, to become scientifically literate, and to consider pursuing careers in science and engineering.

Cheers to you, Ms. Ride. There aren't nearly enough like you in the world.

Ride is survived by her partner of 27 years, Tam O'Shaughnessy

And to add a little Fark style levity to this, holy crap is that not the most Irish name in history? haha

Only because said partner's mother's maiden name is O'Shanter.

\in other news, is it just me or was that one of the least publicized lesbian couples ever?

kg209		2012-07-24 02:44:40 AM

2 votes:

When I was a kid I wrote to Sally Ride and she sent me back a nice letter and a signed picture. I was so excited to receive that picture and I showed it off everywhere. I didn't understand until later that she was the first American woman in space and what that meant. She is truly an inspiration and I am saddened by her passing.
Rest in Peace Sally. What a life you lived.

Evil Canadian		2012-07-23 11:30:57 PM

2 votes:

Strangely enough, I am not sure that "gay" or "straight" was exactly her focus anyhow. She was a scientist, an astronaut and a teacher, and the personal stuff came way down the line. She was busy with her intellectual and professional life, and identifying as anything (as well as having a strong focus on personal life) was not likely the most important thing. I do find it interesting though that both her marriage, and then her long term partnership, were with people who were in a similar line of work - science, space and teaching. That might have been the attraction.

/Just like me - I am a nerd, a tech and a mom long before I worry about being gay. It's mostly non-issue, and non-important for the most part. I am who I am and I just happen to have a wife.
//Let me play with my computers please!!

HopScotchNSoda		2012-07-23 11:12:25 PM

2 votes:

itsfullofstars: Today I learned..
[i.imgur.com image 411x600]
Sally Ride was a hell of a tennis player, through high school and college. Even took a shot at going pro.

She ended up being an engineer and astronaut instead of a cliché.

TheMysteriousStranger		2012-07-23 08:56:08 PM

2 votes:

Hector Felix: KimNorth: "Her first flight came two decades after the Soviets sent a woman into space"

What shocked me is the Soviets were the first to send a woman into space...

Why?

Truth be known, it was a stunt. If Khrushchev has not wanted yet another "first," they would have never have sent up Tereshkova. And indeed, once they had accomplished the "first" they utterly no intention of ever sending a woman up again. Of course progress happened even in the Soviet Union and they had their second women in space in 1984.

Sally Ride earned her seat. Her rides in space were not a stunt. And indeed she had quite a distinguished space career even ignoring her trips into space.

t3knomanser		2012-07-23 07:39:33 PM

2 votes:

Second star to the right, and straight on till morning, Ms. Ride. You can't possibly miss it.

Magorn		2012-07-23 07:29:27 PM

2 votes:

wjmorris3: The first woman in space has loosed the surly bonds of earth and touched the face of God. RIP

Not to be pedantic in an in memoriam thread but credit needs to be given where it is due. This is first woman in space:
Valentina Tereshkova
thegreatgeekmanual.com

Sally was the first US woman

Krusty's Wench		2012-07-23 07:27:29 PM

2 votes:

I wanted to be her when I grew up. She was my hero.

And to steal Spanky's line - may you play forever among the stars.

grimlock1972		2012-07-23 07:27:11 PM

2 votes:

RIP Sally may ride amongst the stars forever more.

Magorn		2012-07-23 07:20:26 PM

2 votes:

exick: After retiring from NASA, Sally used her high profile to champion a cause she believed in passionately--inspiring young people, especially girls, to stick with their interest in science, to become scientifically literate, and to consider pursuing careers in science and engineering.

Cheers to you, Ms. Ride. There aren't nearly enough like you in the world.

Ride is survived by her partner of 27 years, Tam O'Shaughnessy

And to add a little Fark style levity to this, holy crap is that not the most Irish name in history? haha

and tells me something about Miss ride I never knew before, apparently NASA never had the equivalent DADT restrictions, and Dr. Tam O'Shaughessy seems like a pretty cool lady in her own right

Masquerader317		2012-07-23 07:08:52 PM

2 votes:

From stardust she was created and to stardust she will return.

TV's Vinnie		2012-07-23 07:07:57 PM

2 votes:

Astronauts don't die. They're reassigned to The Ultimate Mission.

author1701		2012-07-23 07:04:24 PM

2 votes:

Sally Ride, first American woman to venture into the final frontier, goes off to explore the undiscovered country.

srtpointman		2012-07-23 06:35:05 PM

2 votes:

Shame. Wait...what did she do with her Mustang?

Dancin_In_Anson		2012-07-23 05:24:22 PM

2 votes:

Oh man...that is some sad news.

dodecahedron		2012-07-24 09:19:57 AM

1 votes:

WTF, Fark? Taking down Joe Paterno's statue gets a newsflash but the death of the first American woman astronaut does not?

Tyrone Slothrop		2012-07-24 08:15:19 AM

1 votes:

Hector Felix: KimNorth: "Her first flight came two decades after the Soviets sent a woman into space"

What shocked me is the Soviets were the first to send a woman into space...

Why?

For all their faults, the Soviets were very egalitarian. As Paul Robson said, "No Russian ever called me nugger."

/godsspeed, rocketgirl

Teknowaffle		2012-07-23 11:54:20 PM

1 votes:

That is a shame. She and my mom were friends growing up, and her dad Dale was my grandfather's best friend.

It is too bad that she and my mom grew apart as they got older, as their interests became so different.

theurge14		2012-07-23 11:33:34 PM

1 votes:

Well, there goes another of my 1980s childhood heroes. That was unexpected.

RIP

/raises glass of Tang

itsfullofstars		2012-07-23 10:30:05 PM

1 votes:

Today I learned..

i.imgur.com

Sally Ride was a hell of a tennis player, through high school and college. Even took a shot at going pro.

ghall3		2012-07-23 10:27:17 PM

1 votes:

Dadoo: Until 2009, I would have sworn we'd have a woman president, before we had a black one.

Maybe they are smarter than us? Or less corruptible? Seems to me the only way to get any real power in our country is to sell your soul to corporations and the lobbys....

but im cynical

tudorgurl		2012-07-23 09:55:53 PM

1 votes:

Thank you for being one of my heroes, Ms. Ride. You and Christa McCauliffe inspired me as a kid. When I got my Cabbage Patch Kid Astronaut, I named her Sally Christa. I wanted to be an astronaut so bad (and a teacher second), but I sucked at math. So a teacher I became.

Thank you for all that you have done.

Miss Stein		2012-07-23 09:54:15 PM

1 votes:

yellowcat: Judith Resnick was the 2nd US Woman in space and was recruited to be an astronaut by Nichelle Nichols.

Whoa. I just googled "Nichelle Nichols" and "NASA recruitment." Wow - I had no idea.

2DShooter		2012-07-23 09:48:23 PM

1 votes:

My headline: Sally Rode

TheMysteriousStranger		2012-07-23 09:27:49 PM

1 votes:

topcon: I would have bet money she died in Challenger. I thought for sure she was part of that.

She was part of it. But not as a victim, but as part of the commission that investigated the accident.

Indeed she was one of the only persons who supported that man who provided evidence that his employer's responsibility for the accident at the time.

Saturn5		2012-07-23 08:57:30 PM

1 votes:

Invisible Pedestrian		2012-07-23 08:42:34 PM

1 votes:

/odd last line at that

mr intrepid		2012-07-23 08:32:46 PM

1 votes:

So sad to hear and way too young. Physicist, Astronaut, Educator. Made us all look like abject underachievers.

Nick Nostril		2012-07-23 08:11:16 PM

1 votes:

There will be NO inexpensive cures for cancer. No money in it.

/ RIP lady

Nem Wan		2012-07-23 08:10:51 PM

1 votes:

KimNorth: "Her first flight came two decades after the Soviets sent a woman into space"

What shocked me is the Soviets were the first to send a woman into space...

Soviet/Russian female spaceflight appears to be rather transparently for propaganda occasions and otherwise hostile to female participation. Valentina Tereshkova and Svetlana Savitskaya were the only two Soviet women in space. Tereshkova flew in 1963 and was one of the first human beings in space. Four other female cosmonauts retired in 1969 without flying. Savitskaya flew in 1982 and 1984, obviously in response to America's introduction of female astronauts around that time. Yelena V. Kondakova is the only post-Soviet Russian woman to fly in space, in 1994 and 1997. This was, again, suspiciously coincidental with American Eileen Collins becoming the first female space shuttle pilot (later commander). Kondakova's second flight was aboard the space shuttle with Collins as pilot also on her second flight!

Scrotastic Method		2012-07-23 08:08:47 PM

1 votes:

IamSoSmart_S_M_R_T: Manon Rheaume would like a word:

Pfffffft. Not quite. Never played in a real game, and even if she had, goalie wouldn't count. It's like, how many times do you hear a story about a girl playing college football, and then you start reading and you're like, "yup...kicker."

Not saying it can't happen, not saying it won't happen, but there's never been a woman born that was capable of playing pro sports with men. Since this is Fark I will remind everyone that Brienne of Tarth is fictional.

clowncar on fire		2012-07-23 08:02:30 PM

1 votes:

R.I.P. Sally

Do i have to do everything around here?

Toshiro Mifune's Letter Opener		2012-07-23 07:45:04 PM

1 votes:

That's truly sad news.

Rest in peace, Sally Ride.

And because it hasn't been said enough in this thread, f*ck cancer.

davidphogan		2012-07-23 07:43:58 PM

1 votes:

I had no idea she was the first lesbian in space. That's an interesting footnote to an interesting woman.

clowncar on fire		2012-07-23 07:38:56 PM

1 votes:

Tell me did you sail across the sun
Did you make it to the milky way to see the lights all faded
And that heaven is overrated -Train

Hagenhatesyouall		2012-07-23 07:34:36 PM

1 votes:

spman: cold_war_relic: spman: RIP Space Lady

Pancreatic cancer is a biatch, ain't it? No symptoms until it's too late, generally no specific reason why you get it, and a prognosis of 6 - 12 months. That's some scary shiat.

We lost my wife's sister to pancreatic cancer last Christmas. She was 46.

That's awful. A cancer diagnosis is always terrible, but at least when you smoke your whole life and get lung cancer, or drink yourself into a stupor for 30 years and get liver cancer, you can at least point to a definitive cause. I couldn't imagine trying to wrap my head around a diagnosis like Pancreatic Cancer where the only real cause in most cases is just bad luck in the genetic lottery.

This....

howtogrowmarijuana.com

....has the potential to cure and prevent cancer.

If you believe these guys: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/cannabis/healthprofessional /page4

Too bad it's been criminalized for the past 70 some years due to ignorance and fear...

Magorn		2012-07-23 07:25:41 PM

1 votes:

sleeping martyr: How doth the hero strong and brave,
A celestial path in the heavens pave.

Go, Sally, Go

Or as has become, sadly the traditional astronaut's sending-off poem
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds, - and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring 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 ever 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.

But I'm still partial to :

Out ride the sons of Terra,
Far drives the thundering jet,
Up leaps a race of Earthmen,
Out, far, and onward yet ---

cmunic8r99		2012-07-23 07:18:08 PM

1 votes:

F**k cancer.

digitalrain		2012-07-23 07:18:07 PM

1 votes:

Ride, Sally Ride
Upon your mystery ship,
Be amazed at the friends
You have here on your trip.

shivashakti		2012-07-23 07:12:45 PM

1 votes:

So, if she wasn't the first woman in space, maybe she was the first gay person in space? First lesbian?

Hell, I didn't even know she was a lesbian until just now. That's so awesome! That ought to be publicized more.

Hey, gay girls... you know how people always pick on you for being different? Show them the f*ck up and be a goddamned astronaut!

B*tches love space!

Theseus		2012-07-23 07:11:15 PM

1 votes:

Sally Ride was freaking awesome. Growing up in the 80s I always remembered her name, she was pioneer and hero to me. No snark needed.

Great_Milenko		2012-07-23 07:03:39 PM

1 votes:

sleeping martyr: How doth the hero strong and brave,
A celestial path in the heavens pave.

Go, Sally, Go

Perfect.

dbaggins		2012-07-23 07:02:52 PM

1 votes:

SarcasticFark: It's a sad state of affairs that young women today have no one to look up to like my generation did with Sally Ride. True pioneers of the female persuasion are, sadly, too few and far between.

The USA has put up about 50 female astronauts (most of them for multiple flights). I don't think young girls are hurting for a role model to go into space.

What field are girls lacking pioneers/professionals in ?

Is there some frontier that is still no girls allowed ? honestly. what area is needing a female pioneer ?

D_Evans45		2012-07-23 07:02:36 PM

1 votes:

World mourns not just a great broad, but a fine piece of ass.

smeegle		2012-07-23 07:02:14 PM

1 votes:

What a bummer. 61 is still young. WTF?

DrunkenBob		2012-07-23 07:01:03 PM

1 votes:

Girls don't belong in space. There are no sewing machines in space. There are no space dresses. You cannot be pregnant out there. Stay down here where you belong.

Jim_Tressel's_O-Face		2012-07-23 06:53:43 PM

1 votes:

Ride, Sally, ride.

Spanky McStupid		2012-07-23 06:52:50 PM

1 votes:

Man, cancer just farking sucks!

Thanks for the great ride, Sally - may you forever play among the stars.

upload.wikimedia.org

Fribble		2012-07-23 06:49:57 PM

1 votes:

RIP

moops		2012-07-23 06:48:29 PM

1 votes:

RIP GIDGET

SarcasticFark		2012-07-23 06:48:19 PM

1 votes:

It's a sad state of affairs that young women today have no one to look up to like my generation did with Sally Ride. True pioneers of the female persuasion are, sadly, too few and far between.

The Beatings Will Continue Until Morale Improves		2012-07-23 06:44:14 PM

1 votes:

RIP Sally Ride. She was a truly a pioneer in flight, just like Hellen Keller.

olapbill		2012-07-23 06:41:36 PM

1 votes:

all you have to do is ride around Sally.
Ride , Sally Ride.

Der Poopflinger		2012-07-23 06:39:40 PM

1 votes:

Ride free sally ride, ride free

OnlyM3		2012-07-23 06:38:20 PM

1 votes:

FriarReb98

\in other news, is it just me or was that one of the least publicized lesbian couples ever?

Successful people normal* don't have run around with chips on their shoulders.

*Exceptions include NFL(aka national felons league) and NBA

Apos		2012-07-23 06:38:15 PM

1 votes:

pottie		2012-07-23 06:37:32 PM

1 votes:

R. I. P. Heroic Space Lady

spman		2012-07-23 06:35:57 PM

1 votes:

RIP Space Lady

Pancreatic cancer is a biatch, ain't it? No symptoms until it's too late, generally no specific reason why you get it, and a prognosis of 6 - 12 months. That's some scary shiat.

xenomorpheus		2012-07-23 06:25:10 PM

1 votes:

I haz a sad

exick		2012-07-23 05:29:03 PM

1 votes:

After retiring from NASA, Sally used her high profile to champion a cause she believed in passionately--inspiring young people, especially girls, to stick with their interest in science, to become scientifically literate, and to consider pursuing careers in science and engineering.

Cheers to you, Ms. Ride. There aren't nearly enough like you in the world.

Ride is survived by her partner of 27 years, Tam O'Shaughnessy

And to add a little Fark style levity to this, holy crap is that not the most Irish name in history? haha

Displayed 73 of 73 comments

View Voting Results: Smartest and Funniest

This thread is closed to new comments.