Sally Ride, First US Female Astronaut, Dead at 61 [VIDEO]Sally Ride, First US Female Astronaut, Dead at 61 [VIDEO]Sally Ride died today after a 17 month battle with pancreatic cancer, she was 61-years-old. Ride was the first U.S. female astronaut in space on the shuttle Challenger in 1983.Jeff EasterlingJeff Easterling