Sally Ride, first American woman to fly in space, dies of cancer at age 61
Sally Ride, the first American woman to fly in space, has died. She was 61.
NASA confirmed her death Monday afternoon. Her office in San Diego says she died of Pancreatic Cancer.
Ride flew into space when on the shuttle Challenger in 1983 when she was 32.
President Barack Obama is calling her a national hero and a "powerful role model."
In a statement, the president said Ride "inspired generations of young girls to reach for the stars."
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