Sally Ride was part of a rising wave of women in science and engineering . She spent her post - space career trying to get kids interested in the subjects . Ride , the first American woman in space , died suddenly at 43 . ` ` Sally changed the world , '' ' Cady Stanton says .
Sally Ride was part of a rising wave of women in science and engineering . She spent her post-space career trying to get kids interested in the subjects . Ride , the first American woman in space , died Monday at 61 . `` Sally changed the world , '' astronaut Cady Coleman says .