Sally Ride died today of pancreatic cancer. She was 61 years old. All of that time spent on earth except for the 14 days, seven hours and 46 minutes she spent in space as America’s first ever female astronaut. She was a trailblazer, an icon to schoolchildren of the generation. And tonight, NBC’s Rehema Ellis has a look back.Sally Ride was the first American woman to wear the uniform and make the memorable journey into space.
SALLY RIDE: I think there are a-- a few people that are-- that are waiting to see how I do, let me-- let me put it that way. ELLIS: Out of eight thousand who applied for the space program in the late 1970s, she was one of the chosen. Even after she left NASA she never gave up on her mission to inspire young people, especially young girls. Recently, during NBC’s Education Nation Summit Ride talked about encouraging women to study science and math.
RIDE : Maybe most important it’s the-- the teachers and the schools holding the high expectations and getting the message to the students, the girls as well as the boys, that we expect you to do well.ROBERT BAZELL : Sally Ride was an extraordinarily intelligent and dedicated person and you could say that about any astronaut. But she had to be even more so to get into this exclusively men’s club, mostly fighter pilots, a very macho culture.
ELLIS: Sally Ride died today at age 61 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. An American hero, she became a symbol for everyone and mostly women who strive to break through barriers like she did. Rehema Ellis, NBC News, New York.
Isnt she the one who blew up
2012? Wait. Wait. What? Oh, I was raising kids that year. Lol. Thank you for the update.
Thank you Sally Ride!
Whoa! Didn't see that one coming... RIP Sally
Yeah she Was a wonderful and smart woman and excellent lady.
R.I.P. and Peace be with you.
Space is so hard that poor Sally had to die twice!
Journalism at its worst.
Ya but she died; proof that women dont belong in space or the space program
😂😂😂😂😂
well she when up again , well maybe
So sad 😞
Oh man 😔
wait...did Matt Lauer or Megyn Kelly write this Sally been dead for awhile now...
😢
You have not been forgotten. You will always be loved. Continue to Rest in Peace. Love & tail wags ~ Lucas Lou WomensHistoryMonth
May she Rest In Peace.
kazweida Hey , delete this tweet and start over with a more appropriate headline. Don't you people have editors anymore?
She deserves the respect she is getting....
CanaryAmerica godspeed, Ms Ride. your bravery is unparalleled.
R.I.P.🇺🇸Sally🕊
RichelleCarey What’s next? Breaking news: Susan B. Anthony has died... 😞. But hey, sometimes all you have is sensationalism. Sad.
RIP
Perhaps NBC could have included (1951 - 2012) after 'Sally Ride' so the readers would know her death came 7 years ago.
Oh, NBC. Tsk. Tsk. Sensationalism is alive and well at NBC News. Sally Ride has been dead for a few years now. Or you just find out?
Old news. Seven years old in fact.
Ride Sally, Ride. 💔
MurfAD We need to remember the pioneers...😔
First woman to lie about being in space.
I was debating on wearing my NASA shirt today! Now I wish I would have. Rest In Peace!
Maybe delete this tweet and try again?
She'll be missed.
My. Condolences
Editor’s note: This tweet^ is intended to highlight the late Sally Ride’s achievements as part of effort to highlight WomensHistoryMonth. We should have been more clear in our original tweet. You can see more of these highlights via this Twitter search.
So weird. My daughter chose her for her 4th grade wax museum project. We are working on her biography this morning
Sally, you might be gone, but you are forever in the hearts of young people around the world.
May she RIP. Thank you for your contributions and for making a difference.
R.I.P.
She was truly an inspiration
Not again
Rest In Peace😥🌠
Rest in Peace 🙏🙏🙏 God Bless Your Soul 💒
Another bigoted article.
Women’s history month. Probably should have mentioned that.
Sally Ride's been dead for nearly 7 years.
RIP MS RIDE
Well, old news is better than fake news.
Can’t find any current news?
rest in peace sally😢
You’re 6 year late on this breaking news!
Why are you tweeting old news?
People! Shows how much you pay attention to anything, Sally Ride died in 2012.
Late news.
Oh no! She is one of my hero’s. My she Rest In Peace. Such an inspiration to be what you want to be. Blessings big hugs to her family.
The day she launched all the women at KSC held up signs for her “Ride Sally Ride” she was awesome met her in the LCV a few days before she asked me what do you do I’m first woman computer programmer we both smiled Ride on Sally
A great American and one hell of a lady.
May her memory be a blessing
Uh? She been dead for almost 6 years..
Was she resurrected and died again?! TheTweetOfGod what did you do?!
She died in 2012. Why is this newsworthy today?