NASA/Via AP

In this June 1983 photo provided by NASA, astronaut Sally Ride, a specialist on shuttle mission STS-7, monitors control panels from the pilot's chair on the shuttle Columbia flight deck.

The American physicist, first American woman, and youngest American to enter space died today after a 17 month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 61 years old.

Guest:

Maria Zuber, Professor of Geophysics in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences at MIT; she worked with Sally Ride to create science education material for middle school students across the country.