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R.I.P., Sally Ride

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Sally Ride–Dr. Sally Ride, which usually gets left out, but she did have a doctorate in astrophysics and a master’s degree in awesomeness–died yesterday of pancreatic cancer. She was the first woman from the U.S. and the youngest person ever in space, and she was my biggest girl-crush when I was growing up.

From her L.A. Times obituary:

“The impact of Sally Ride and women like her cannot be overestimated,” said Amy Mainzer, an astrophysicist who is a principle scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Canada-Flintridge. “She was an ‘existence proof,’ Mainzer told The Times. “She proved that it was possible to work in space physics and as a space scientist and be female at the same time. What she did was prove that you could make it all the way to the top and accomplish amazing things in these fields — and still have a pair of ovaries.”

…

In the week before her first shuttle flight, [Ride] told Newsweek that “I did not come to NASA to make history. It is important to me that people don’t think I was picked for the flight because I am a woman and it is time for NASA to send one.”

…

Shortly after landing, Ride said, “The thing that I’ll remember most about the flight is that it was fun. In fact, I’m sure it was the most fun that I will ever have in my life.”

Sally Ride is survived by her mother, her sister, her partner of 27 years, more than 40 U.S. women who have followed her into space, and about a million girls who have been inspired and learned to love science because of her mission in space and her mission in education.

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51 thoughts on R.I.P., Sally Ride

  1. Sally Ride was awesome, no argument possible.

    As a subcultural side note, Americans with doctoral degrees in the physical sciences almost never go by the “Dr.” honorific, which is probably why it usually gets left out for Ms. Ride, in case you were curious. In my personal experience, it would be a considerable faux pas for someone with a PhD in astrophysics to want to be referred to as “Dr.”, other than jokingly, or as a means of congratulations right after earning their degree.

  2. Most of the people I know with degrees in chemistry and geology and biology want to be referred to as doctor. Weird.

  3. That is weird. Maybe my personal experience only generalizes to an even smaller subculture – a west coast thing, or even a Caltech thing in particular, I guess. I think it holds true with all the chemistry, mechanical engineering, computer science, physics, and mathematics PhDs I’m friends with. (“Professor” is definitely still a real title, on the other hand.)

  4. Although my mother had a PhD in medical history and was convinced that it was not respected by those with an MD (whom she frequently thought she knew more than), she never used the honorific “Doctor” other than in a professional context. BTW, there are MDs who also limit the use of the term to their professional lives.

  5. Most people I know with Ph.D.’s never expect to be referred to as “Dr.,” unless they teach in a high school, in which case it’s a fairly common mark of distinction from high school teachers without Ph.D.’s. If they teach at colleges or universities, they’re usually referred to as “Professor,” not “Doctor,” and, even then, only in an academic, not a social context.

  7. What Donna L said—at the secondary and primary (there was a third-grade teacher with a PhD at my school, not sure what she got it in) level, people get referred to as “Doctor” by what are usually kids and teenagers. At the college level, most professors have a doctorate, so it’s just sort of assumed, and there’s no reason to draw attention to it. Even the nameplates of my professors (at a liberal arts school) list their names without honorifics. (Of course, all that this means is that having a PhD is very normalized, not that it’s considered unimportant. In my experience, people without them at the college level or above are looked down upon. A friend who’s a physics major tells me that the one junior professor with only a Masters is being given a hard time about it.)

    I also had a piano teacher with a PhD (in music, I assume) who insisted on being called “Doctor” during lessons.

  8. This news is…strangely affecting to me, actually. I had a book when I was a kid that had a long article (11 pages or so, with pictures) on Sally Ride’s education/further training as an astronaut, and I devoured it hungrily. For someone in her twelfth year of struggling with gender role policing, Ride’s awesomeness was even more important because of the wild hair (which is creepily like mine), the clothes, the uncompromising drive to take her place in male-dominated spaces (all of which I was being given shit for having). I don’t even know how to sum up how I feel about her death, or what she meant to me. Just…really, really sad.

  9. Sally Ride’s historic flight took place the year I was born. From the age of six I desperately wanted to be an astronaut just like her, and boy did I work my little ass off at math and science in pursuit of that dream. (Ended up on another path, but that’s another story.)

    I had forgotten just how important she was to me until last night, when I burst into ugly ragged sobbing tears at the news of her death.

    In the words of someone else’s brilliant tweet: “RIP Sally Ride. You crashed through that glass ceiling at 17000mph.”

  10. In the words of someone else’s brilliant tweet: “RIP Sally Ride. You crashed through that glass ceiling at 17000mph.”

    Tears at work, seriously.

  11. Don’tcaredon’tcare. She had a Ph.D. in badassery, and for that, she should be addressed properly.

    In the words of someone else’s brilliant tweet: “RIP Sally Ride. You crashed through that glass ceiling at 17000mph.”

    Oh, this.

  12. I’m a PhD candidate in math at a big state school, and since we have so many instructors who are either graduate students or who got a terminal master degree, PhD’s are referred to as “Dr.” or “Professor” unless told otherwise. That said, many of the instructors here (including me) just go on a first-name basis.

    So yeah, I’d default to Dr. Sally Ride unless I found out that she preferred to go without the “Dr.” This is especially important from the standpoint of women in the sciences, since we tend to get referred to as “Mrs.” while the men are called “Dr.”, regardless of marital status or academic achievement.

  13. @9:

    Dammit, you made me choke up. Now I have to find that message and retweet it.

    Anyone who has the guts to strap themselves to a barely-controlled giant firework in order to travel to the most inhospitable environment imaginable is worthy of great respect, especially considering the brain-melting scientific and intellectual work often necessary to even be considered for most spaceflights at this point in history. The thought of having a chance to spend even a few days above our homeworld puts a lump in my throat. She got to do it twice, and slent the rest of her days working to promote inquiry, intellectual endeavour, and the love of knowledge. She was truly a positive influence upon society.

    It is sad she had to cloak herself in heteronormativity to be allowed to make her trips to space. May no one ever be compelled to do so again.

    RIP Sally, and thank you.

  14. I can confirm that it’s not just a west cost thing — I’m a math professor in the midwest, and advanced degree holders at the schools I’ve been at only insist on being addressed as Dr. when interacting with undergraduate students (and really, Prof. is more common).

    At larger universities, some postdoc instructors get called (or will be asked to be called) Dr. Lastname, since they aren’t professors but are also higher on the totem pole than graduate student TAs. That said, there’s a definite gender divide in what undergraduate students tend to call math and physical science instructors — female grad students and postdocs get called “Mrs” or “Ms” a lot by students, but male postdocs usually get called “Dr”, and some male grad students will be promoted to “Dr” as well. This still happens when female post docs ask students to call them Dr. or male grad students ask their students to call them Mr. (or by first name).

    Sally Ride was indeed awesome. And when she gave a talk at my alma mater, she took the time afterwards to talk with a number of us starry-eyed undergrads and sign autographs.

  15. And her partner of 27 years is a woman, I just found out. I heard a rumor that she’s being denied widows’ benefits, because of gay cooties.

  17. While it may be rare or even unheard of in many fields, anyone with a PhD—a doctorate degree—is entitled to be called “doctor”. I personally am only called “doctor” by some undergrads, and that’s fine with me. But let’s not forget that academics were using that title long before MDs co-opted it: it comes from the Latin for “to teach”.

    Also, it’s very common to try to belittle women with doctorates by calling them “Ms.”/”Miss”/”Mrs.” instead of “Dr.”, which (I reiterate) is the correct title.

  18. 1983, I sat glued to the kitchen television watching that launch. I had enough of a social conscience then to realize how important and amazing this particular mission was, despite Dr. Ride’s humility about it. The fact that I recall her and the Challenger flight clearly 30 years later speaks far more about her impact than my memory (which is crappy).
    Though I was interested in science and astronomy, I had no real aptitude for it. Even at 18, I remember being both impressed and then somewhat ashamed for being impressed by her accomplishments.
    I don’t really believe in heroes, but she’s on my unwritten Top 10 list.

    I hope she’s off continuing to discover new frontiers.

  19. I’m not concerned about her title. IMO, that’s nothing compared to the fact that her partner of 27 years doesn’t stand to get any federal spousal benefits because of the lack of marriage equality (and partnership equality) in this country.

  20. Gee, in Australia academics just automatically get called by their first names by their students. Expecting anything else would put you into extreme wanker territory.

    But, Sally Ride. Amazing woman.

  21. It’s a sad world where a woman can fly into outer space, but she doesn’t dare come out until after her death.

  22. But she wasn’t closeted–she and her partner went places together publicly, she was out to all her family and friends.

  24. [Gee, in Australia academics just automatically get called by their first names by their students. Expecting anything else would put you into extreme wanker territory.]

    Would you agree with the late John Mortimer’s assessment that Leo McKern, when portraying Rumpole, began with a great advantage because, being Australian, he had no respect for authority?

    If so, I’d certainly be willing to treat any authorities denying Dr Ride’s widow her deserved benefits to a large helping of Australian disrespect, and then some.

  25. In the chemistry world, people don’t tend to go by Dr. except professionally. And sometimes, not even then. Like, not at conferences, but maybe for a seminar, if it’s not clear whether it’s being given by a graduate student or a postdoc. And probably professionally outside of the chemistry world where PhDs are less common.

    Personally, I think Master of Science is a cooler title.

  27. I looked at her Wiki page and I still have no idea what she actually did in space.

    obv she did nothing Mike. she was only there cuz of those quotas and stuff.

  28. In Germany, of course, they would be Frau Dr. Professor or Herr Dr. Professor.

    Not to be nitpicky about this but

    1) It would be Herr/Frau Professor Doctor
    and
    2) Professor in Germany is an actual degree in the majority of cases. You have to hand in a thesis that is expected to be significantly more substantial than your Ph.D. thesis, but the process is remarkably similar in many ways. At least that’s true for my turf, the humanities.

  30. It’s settled, then: Sally K. Ride, B.A., B.S., M.S., Ph.D., BAMF, O.Bamf.E. Certified by the American College of BAMFs (U.S. Chapter) and the Société Internationale des BAMFs. Professionally, “BAMF Ride.”

  31. I looked at her Wiki page and I still have no idea what she actually did in space.

    Well Mike, you could try reading the linked article (concept!):

    Ride served her time on the ground in preparation for her first flight. She was the capsule communicator for the second and third shuttle flights and helped develop the shuttle’s robot arm. On June 18, 1983, she entered space aboard the shuttle Challenger for mission STS-7, becoming the first American woman and, at age 31, the youngest person in space. The crew deployed two communications satellites and conducted pharmaceutical experiments.

    With Ride and Col. John M. Fabian operating the robot arm, it performed the first deployment and retrieval of a satellite.

    Shortly after landing, Ride said, “The thing that I’ll remember most about the flight is that it was fun. In fact, I’m sure it was the most fun that I will ever have in my life.”

    Ride was again aboard Challenger for mission STS-41, which launched on Oct. 5, 1984. This time, the arm was put to some unusual uses, including scraping ice off the shuttle’s exterior and adjusting a radar antenna.

    She was training for a third flight when the Challenger exploded in January 1986, and she was named to the Rogers Commission that investigated the disaster. During the probe, she was reportedly the only public figure to support Morton-Thiokol engineer Roger Boisjoly, who had warned of technical problems that led to the accident.

    She was later quoted as saying that astronauts did not receive adequate warning about the potential dangers of the shuttle. She told the Chicago Tribune: “I think that we may have been misleading people into thinking that this is a routine operation.”

    Ride subsequently transferred to NASA’s Washington headquarters and authored a report titled “Leadership and America’s Future in Space.” She also founded the agency’s Office of Exploration before resigning in 1987 to work at Stanford University’s Center for International Security and Arms Control.

  32. It’s settled, then: Sally K. Ride, B.A., B.S., M.S., Ph.D., BAMF, O.Bamf.E. Certified by the American College of BAMFs (U.S. Chapter) and the Société Internationale des BAMFs. Professionally, “BAMF Ride.”

    This seems like a reasonable compromise upon which everyone should be able to agree.

  33. obv she did nothing Mike. she was only there cuz of those quotas and stuff.

    She probably just did her nails and hair most of the time, right?

  34. She probably just did her nails and hair most of the time, right?

    Weightless-ness and nail polish…. I think I just spent too much energy trying to picture how that would work.

  35. obv she did nothing Mike. she was only there cuz of those quotas and stuff.

    While I am sure that NASA wanted to put a woman in space, just like the Russians did, that they made her do something useful why they were at it.

  38. Mike, if you bothered to read the Wiki quote posted by S.H. at #31, you’d find your question is already answered. The article actually spells out what she did in space using teeny-tiny words. Reading comprehension: it is so helpful.

  39. But she wasn’t closeted–she and her partner went places together publicly, she was out to all her family and friends.

    God, I would hope so! But I think you and I have different definitions of “out.” Which is okay.

  41. Personally, I have no idea what anybody does in space. For all I know, they’re all up there turning somersaults in mid-air and and enjoying a free, floating vacation.

    But I’m sure Mike can give us the inside scoop on what every single astronaut went into space to do, right? Or is it just women who have to justify their accomplishments to him?

  43. DouglasG @ 24. I’d say that was true.

    I’d also note that under Australian law her partner would receive exactly the same benefits she would have, if they’d been married.

  44. Space is one of my random fears that has a tenuously logical explanation. Ever since I read that one story in The Illustrated Man I am terrified of floating off into space.

  47. My experience: mathematicians and physicists with a PhD are referred to as Dr. if they work outside academia, or in academia but nor professors, as Professor (not doctor) if they are.

    Also, we usually go by first name among each other and with our own (and often, our colleagues’ and friends’) grad students.

  48. Pingback: Ride, Romney and #RealVAWA: What We’ve Been Reading « Politics Power Sex

  49. She was an idol to so many young, brainy girls. From now on, she’ll be an especially keen one to young, queer girls. We just need to make sure that this aspect of her history isn’t erased.

    It’s a shame she wasn’t able or willing to come out in life, but the world we live in is what it is. I respect her choice to keep that secret, even knowing the good that coming out could have done in this case.

  50. I usually just lurk on this wonderful site because I want to learn what 3rd wave femnists are up too, but today I have to post because Dr. Ride has always been one of my heroes. She went into space when I was in graduate school in the sciences and her picture, in full NASA uniform, was on my office wall. One of the women I worked with asked, “Why do you have a picture of a stewardess on your wall?” I miss Sally, but I don’t miss the ’80s!

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