Female Astronaut has Passed Away

The American astronaut Sally Ride has passed away. She was famous not least for being the first American woman in space. The Russians had already had two women in space before Sally Ride got a ride there, but she was the third.

Of course, all the human females in space, as well as human males in space, came after the first female dog in space. The Russian bitch known under the name Laika went into outer space before any human did. Unfortunately, she did not come back. The communist Russians did not bother constructing any re-entry solutions before they let her have her lift-off. Still, the readings the Russians got from Laika was of vital importance for the first human space trips. There you see another example of the selfless sacrifice that dogs do for humans, except in Laika's case, she did not have any choice.

Rest in peace, Sally Ride. I hope you meet Laika in astronaut heaven.