David Weaver
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1600
david.s.weaver@nasa.gov
RELEASE: 13-145
NASA AND THE WHITE HOUSE PAY TRIBUTE TO SALLY RIDE
WASHINGTON -- NASA and President Obama are honoring the life and
legacy of Sally Ride on the day a national tribute was held for the
first American woman in space.
The president announced Monday afternoon Ride will be posthumously
awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a ceremony at the
White House later this year. The Medal of Freedom is the nation's
highest civilian honor, presented to individuals who have made
especially meritorious contributions to the security or national
interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or
other significant public or private endeavors.
"We remember Sally Ride not just as a national hero, but as a role
model to generations of young women," said President Obama. "Sally
inspired us to reach for the stars, and she advocated for a greater
focus on the science, technology, engineering and math that would
help us get there. Sally showed us that there are no limits to what
we can achieve, and I look forward to welcoming her family to the
White House as we celebrate her life and legacy."
Monday night, NASA further paid tribute to Ride by creating a new
agency internship program in her name and renaming a science
instrument aboard the International Space Station. The announcement
was made by NASA Administrator Charles Bolden during a national
tribute called, "Sally Ride: A Lifetime of Accomplishment, A Champion
of Science Literacy," at the John F. Kennedy Center for the
Performing Arts in Washington.
The Sally Ride Internship is intended to help students from
underserved backgrounds pursue a research interest at one of NASA's
centers nationwide. As many as 10 internships total will be available
in the spring and fall semesters of each school year, giving students
the opportunity to develop a meaningful professional experience and
work side by side with practicing scientists and engineers who are
helping the United States lead the world in exploration and
discovery. The internships also will encourage students to go into
careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM),
of which Ride was a strong and longtime proponent.
NASA also is recognizing Ride by renaming a camera aboard the space
station the Sally Ride EarthKAM. Through Sally Ride Science, hundreds
of thousands of middle school students have participated in space
research by using EarthKAM. Students use the Internet to request
images based on their classroom investigations, and the image
collection and accompanying learning guides and activities are
extraordinary resources to support lessons in Earth and space
science, geography, social studies, mathematics, communications, and
even art.
"Sally's impact on our nation and future generations of explorers is
immeasurable," said Bolden, who served with Ride in NASA's astronaut
corps in the 1980s. "God speed, Sally Ride, and thank you for
reminding us to reach higher, break barriers and dream big."
Monday's tribute highlighted Ride's contributions and her legacies.
The celebration included longtime friends and colleagues who worked
side-by-side with her to motivate and inspire girls and boys to study
the STEM fields.
"Sally Ride Science is thrilled to be presenting a National Tribute to
Sally to honor her lifelong commitment to space exploration, but also
to improving science education and to supporting science literacy for
all students," said Tam O'Shaughnessy, Ride's life partner,
co-founder and chair of the board of Sally Ride Science.
In addition to space exploration and science, the tribute was built
around others things that had special meaning to Ride, including
sports, music, dance and poetry. Those were represented by the
Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras playing Claude Debussy's "Clair de
Lune"; Twyla Tharp's "Jordan" dance; Patti Austin singing Tena
Clark's "Way Up There"; and Maria Shriver reading Mary Oliver's poem
"The Summer Day."
Speakers at the tribute included Sen. Barbara Mikulski of Maryland,
who talked about how Ride changed STEM education and policy, and
NASA's Associate Administrator for Education and former astronaut
Leland Melvin and former astronaut and space shuttle commander Pam
Melroy, who spoke about Ride's impact on the astronaut corps, the
space program and beyond.
"I'm thrilled to pay tribute to Sally because her dedication and
superb talent cemented the value of women's contributions in space
and in science, smoothing the path for all women to achieve success,"
said Pam Melroy, former NASA astronaut and space shuttle commander.
"Sally showed the world what was possible, opening the eyes of
millions of women and men to what could be. Her achievements in space
inspired a generation of young women, and her achievements in STEM
education will pass that legacy of inspiration on to future
generations."
Ride died on July 23, 2012, after a 17-month battle with pancreatic
cancer. Ride's first space flight was 30 years ago next month, on
June 18, 1983.
For more information about Sally Ride Science, visit:
http://www.sallyridescience.com For more information about Ride and the national tribute, visit:
http://go.nasa.gov/15sRyyM
