Sally Ride

Sally Ride broke barriers when she journeyed to space in 1983, becoming the first American woman—and the third woman globally, following two Russians—to do so. While this feat is widely recognized, what many didn’t know until after her passing was that she was also the first openly LGBTQ+ astronaut.

Following her demise after a prolonged fight with pancreatic cancer, her partner, Tam O’Shaughnessy, disclosed their 27-year relationship. Additionally, O’Shaughnessy shared that they had co-authored six children’s books, many of which received significant acclaim.