Our Views: Ride’s death a great loss

If humanity can send a man to the moon, as the old question goes, why can’t it find a cure for the common cold?

That question is a sobering reminder that while the frontiers of space might yield to human ambition, the mysteries of medicine can sometimes seem more difficult to navigate.

All of this has come to mind with the death of Sally Ride, America’s first woman in space, after her battle with pancreatic cancer. We’re sorry that human ingenuity could find a way to shuttle Ride into orbit, but the know-how just wasn’t there to save Ride’s life when cancer struck. We know that thousands of cancer patients and their loved ones face similar frustrations.

Fortunately, scientific research continues to yield new breakthroughs in cancer treatment. We look forward to the day when cancer no longer cuts short the lives of patients such as Ride.

In the meantime, Ride’s legacy as an astronaut is secure, and her role in helping to investigate two shuttle crashes is worthy of the nation’s thanks, too. Her participation in review panels investigating those accidents helped establish policies that advanced the safety of other astronauts.

Ride’s efforts helped make the exploration of space, an inherently risky business, a little bit safer.

Comments

1) Comment by lovemykids - 01/08/2012

Her homosexuality, hidden for so long, meant enough to her and her partner to include in her obituary. I respect that and admire her greatly.

2) Comment by [e-mail] - 01/08/2012

Being homosexual or her announcing it herself was not an issue; including that fact on the announcement of her unfortunate and early death in my opinion was an unwarranted intrusion. Her accomplishment has nothing to do with that.

3) Comment by lovemykids - 01/08/2012

[e-mail], why do you have such hate?

4) Comment by CountryBoysCanSurvive - 01/08/2012

All ya gotta do is ride around Sally....ride Sally Ride

5) Comment by bourbon-soda - 31/07/2012

you don't even have to compare to entertainment. How much does the typical tax-supported U pay its affirmative action or diversity offer compared to research PhD? And then there's http://3.bp.blogspot.com/- CipaqEg6Eyw/TznUCVg9CzI/AAAAAAAAIi4/30kcHErYcd4/s1600/ medschool.jpg

6) Comment by Springer98 - 31/07/2012

If anywhere near the amount of money was spent on cancer research as is spent on entertainment in this country, there would be a much greater chance of finding a cure for the dreaded disease.

7) Comment by weliveherenow - 31/07/2012

@RGW - Why is it not noteworthy that the woman was survived by a partner of 27 years? I imagine we'll be reading about yours and mine someday when we croak....but hers is too personal for you? Get over it.

8) Comment by bourbon-soda - 31/07/2012

Near space exploration is simple compared to biology. The United States has deliberately reneged on destiny with regard to space. Historians will try to figure out why.

9) Comment by [e-mail] - 31/07/2012

It's too bad that the announcement of Ride's death included her accomplishments along with the note that she had publicly revealed that she was a homosexual. I don't think that such a personal thing was noteworthy enough to be included in a death announcement.