Space pioneer Sally Ride dies at age 61

Space pioneer Sally Ride has died at the age of 61.

Ride was the first American woman in space. She flew on the space shuttle Challenger in 1983 and returned to space the next year.

Ride died peacefully in her home in California after a 17-month-old battle with pancreatic cancer.

After her retirement, she dedicated the rest of her life to inspiring girls to pursue careers in science.

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