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July 24, 2012

Sally Ride, First U.S. Woman in Space, Dies at 61 
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Sally Ride, the first female U.S. astronaut in space, has died at the
age of 61. Ride made history as a part of the crew aboard the
"Challenger" space flight in 1983. She returned to space for another
mission a year later. In a statement announcing her death, Ride's
foundation confirmed for the first time she was a lesbian with a
longtime female partner of 27 years. Ride's sister, Bear Ride, said: "I
hope it makes it easier for kids growing up gay that they know that
another one of their heroes was like them."

 

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