From Our Readers: Sally Ride, More Than A First

Commenters were saddened to hear of the passing of Sally Ride, remembering her fondly as an inspirational figure in a multiple professional fields.

Says Cher Cox, "I don't think she'd want to be remembered as the first woman in space as much as she'd like us to remember what a fine scientist and teacher she was."

Douglas P writes, "Sure it looks great on your curriculum vitae to say you were the first female astronaut for the United States," but asks "Would she have been less an inspiration? A role model?" had she been less famous: "Those qualities that drove her to become an astronaut had to be realized. If they hadn't been realized in space they would have been realized elsewhere. You can't keep a great person down."

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