Sally Ride, the first female U.S. astronaut in space, has died at the age of 61. Ride made history as a part of the crew aboard the “Challenger” space flight in 1983. She returned to space for another mission a year later. In a statement announcing her death, Ride’s foundation confirmed for the first time she was a lesbian with a longtime female partner of 27 years. Ride’s sister, Bear Ride, said: “I hope it makes it easier for kids growing up gay that they know that another one of their heroes was like them.”