President Barack Obama mourned the death of NASA astronaut Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, calling her "a national hero and powerful role model" - especially for young girls. President Obama has issued the following statement on Ride’s death:

"Michelle and I were deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Sally Ride. As the first American woman to travel into space, Sally was a national hero and a powerful role model. 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. 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. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Sally’s family and friends."

The loss of Ride at such a young age is undoubtedly a shame and her presence will certainly be missed. Hopefully other women in science and technology will be inspired to follow in Sally Ride's footsteps.

R.I.P Sally Ride

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