Sally Ride
Ride, a physicist and astronaut, in 1983 became the first American woman to fly in space — and, at age 32, also the youngest American in space. Ride died on July 23, 2012 at age 61. "She inspired generations of young girls to reach for the stars and later fought tirelessly to help them get there by advocating for a greater focus on science and math in our schools," President Obama said in a statement after her death. "Sally's life showed us that there are no limits to what we can achieve, and I have no doubt that her legacy will endure for years to come."
