Latest news with #SallyRide
Boston Globe
2 days ago
- Science
- Boston Globe
Sally Ride became the first American woman in space 42 years ago today. Here's how weather played a role then and now.
For the launch to be successful, the weather had to be near perfect, and the east coast of Central Florida was basking in amazing conditions that morning. Liftoff commenced without delay with temperatures in the low 70s and near-still wind. This NASA file photo dated June 1983 shows America's first woman astronaut Sally Ride, as she communicates with ground controllers from the flight deck during the six-day space mission of the Challenger. Ride, the first US woman to fly in space, died on July 23, 2012 after a 17-month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 61. - But bad weather in Florida upon return to Earth June 24, 1983, forced Challenger to land three time zones away at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., in the Mojave desert, where still conditions were certain, especially for a powerless glider that depended on a stable atmosphere to land comfortably. The base also provided very wide runways for a smooth Challenger landing. Sally Ride and STS-7 returns safely in California after bad weather in Florida changed the landing location. NASA Advertisement NASA has strict parameters in place when it comes to weather to 'greenlight' a launch — most of which are obvious. Wind speed and direction need to be light and steady. High winds of 30 miles per hour or more will usually scrap flight plans for the day, and any sudden changes in wind direction may cause issues as the rocket moves vertically through the atmosphere. (Back when Sally Ride was breaking barriers in the Space Shuttle program, launches were delayed or canceled when wind speeds were as low as 22 miles per hour.) Advertisement High visibility with little to no cloud cover is also necessary. Any instability in the atmosphere, albeit minor, can cause lightning when a rocket burning copious amounts of fuel at extreme temperatures blasts through. Apollo 12 was struck by lightning twice during liftoff on Nov. 14, 1969, because of its heat production. Essentially, the rocket's exhaust system acted as a lightning rod and sparked lightning with already-lifting air from a nearby cold front. Temperatures and humidity both play critical roles in NASA rocket launches, as everything from the structural integrity and rocket performance can be impacted by weather conditions. Fuel, insulation, wiring, and other components can expand, contract, or break down if weather conditions aren't ideal. Many will remember the Challenger's last trip on Jan. 28, 1986, when air temperatures were 36 degrees, approximately 15 degrees colder than any other shuttle launch, causing the O-ring seal to become brittle and ultimately fail, leading to a catastrophic explosion. All Weather continues to play a critical role in NASA's strict 'launch commit criteria,' and if anything is near or outside the safe range, the launch is delayed or scrubbed for another day. Here's a look at an example weather checklist when considering safe conditions to launch. An example of the weather checklist utilized to proceed or delay a rocket launch at Cape Canaveral. NASA Ken Mahan can be reached at
2 days ago
- Entertainment
Preview of National Geographic's new doc, 'Sally'
The new film tells the story of Sally Ride, the first American female astronaut, who shattered barriers to achieve her dream of going to space.
France 24
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- France 24
Queer astronaut documentary takes on new meaning in Trump's US
But the story of astronaut Sally Ride, whose queer identity was a secret when she blasted off more than four decades ago, took on a "completely different meaning" after the re-election of President Donald Trump, Costantini told AFP. "When we started making the film, it didn't seem all that political to celebrate queer love or women astronauts," said the director of "Sally", which started streaming on Disney+ in many countries on Tuesday. "Just a few years ago, there was a pride flag that flew in space, and (NASA) had vowed the next person on the Moon would be a woman." But that vow has now been removed from NASA's website, just one of many changes at the US space agency since Trump returned to the White House in January. "Employees have been asked to remove symbols of gay pride, pride flags, trans visibility flags," Costantini said. Now, the director hopes the documentary "serves as a reminder that these rights are not guaranteed, that they were hard fought and they were won by people like Sally" and her partner Tam. "It's our responsibility to carry the torch and continue the fight for equality." 'It was hard on her' After boarding the Challenger space shuttle on June 18, 1983, Ride became the first US woman to fly to space. It was two decades after Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova made the voyage. NASA only started allowing women to apply as astronaut recruits in 1977. Ride, who had a PhD in astrophysics from Stanford University and was an accomplished tennis player, was one of six women selected out of more than 8,000 applicants in the class of 1978. Ride received the same training as male astronauts, but was treated quite differently. Journalists asked whether she cried when facing difficulty. NASA engineers asked about what make-up she would need in space. They even worried whether 100 tampons would be enough for her six-day journey into space. "I felt the women hadn't paid their dues like we had," Mike Mullane, another astronaut in the class of 1978, said in the documentary. When Ride returned to Earth, the image of the 32-year-old in her blue jumpsuit, curly chestnut hair, piercing blue eyes and confident smile was seen around the world. But Ride struggled to come to terms with her new status as icon. "It was too much for her," Tam O'Shaughnessy, who was Ride's partner for 27 years, told AFP. "She was an introvert and it was hard on her." The two women founded a nonprofit dedicated to teaching girls science. But the world would only learn they were in a relationship until after Ride's death from pancreatic cancer at the age of 61 in 2012. "Sally did not like labels," O'Shaughnessy said. "She was a queer woman. And so I think it's great that she's sort of become a part of the (LGBTQ+) community after death." O'Shaughnessy expressed concern at reports that US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wants to change the name of a Navy ship currently named after famous gay activist Harvey Milk. "There's a research vessel called 'Sally Ride' and it crossed my mind that might change, too" she said. "It's just shocking. All of this is hard to swallow." © 2025 AFP
New York Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
‘Sally' Review: Rocket Woman
'Sally,' a welcome but unadventurous documentary about the astronaut Sally Ride (who died in 2012), wraps a risk-taking personality inside a risk-averse package. What's lacking is style, not substance, as the movie bustles with diverting details. Lengthy interviews with Sally's life partner, Tam O'Shaughnessy, are candid and sometimes piquant, but they're too often delivered inside a visual dead space. Other talking heads — including Sally's family and fellow astronauts — are handled similarly, the conventionality of Cristina Costantini's filmmaking disappointingly at odds with the singularity of her subject. Even so, a portrait soon takes shape of an extraordinary woman whose drive and intelligence were aided by a personality that, according to one colleague, was 'strictly business.' One of the first women to be accepted into NASA in 1978 — and the first American woman to fly in space — she faced rampant sexism and an organization laughably unprepared for women in its ranks. (Would 100 tampons be sufficient for a week in space?, a male engineer wondered.) Journalists focused relentlessly on her gender, with one asking whether she would weep if she encountered a problem on a flight. As the film makes clear, Sally was not the weeping type. That was a blessing, as she was also deeply private about her personal life. Perhaps noting the torment suffered by her friend Billie Jean King when her relationship with a woman was made public, Sally committed to secrecy. In the end, blasting through Earth's atmosphere was easier than breaching public opinion. 'It hurt me, but I'm not sure it hurt Sally,' a former girlfriend tells us, with refreshing frankness. In one brief exchange, Sally's mother, Joyce Ride, describes her as 'closed mouthed' about her feelings. When Costantini asks why that might be, an unamused Joyce replies 'It's none of your business.' Her daughter would have been proud. SallyNot rated. Running time: 1 hour 43 minutes. Watch on Hulu and Disney+.
The Independent
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
What to Stream: HAIM, 'The Gilded Age,' Benson Boone, astronaut Sally Ride and digital dinosaurs
Lifelike digital Triceratops and Spinosaurus lumbering through a reimagined 'Walking with Dinosaurs' and Benson Boone's sophomore album ' American Heart' are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you. Also among the streaming offerings worth your time, as selected by The Associated Press' entertainment journalists: A documentary on trailblazing NASA astronaut Sally Ride, the third season of 'The Gilded Age' and Tron: Catalyst, a video game inspired by the 1982 movie 'Tron.' New movies to stream from June 16-22 — Cristina Costantini's documentary 'Sally' (Tuesday on Disney+) richly details the story behind the headlines of the first American woman to fly in space. The portrait of Sally Ride, the trailblazing NASA astronaut, is narrated by her life partner of 27 years, Tam O'Shaughnessy. Her intimate perspective on Ride, along with archival footage and interviews with family and colleagues, captures a fuller backstory to an American icon who rose despite pervasive sexism. — 'The Ballad of Wallis Island' (streaming on Peacock) was a standout in the first half of 2025, but easy to miss. A funny and tender charmer set on the coast of Wales, it's not a movie screaming for your attention. It stars Tim Key as an isolated widower who uses some of his lottery winnings to hire his favorite band, a folk duo named McGwyer Mortimer (Tom Basden, Carey Mulligan) to play by his rural home. In her review, AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr wrote that the film feels 'like a much-needed balm. Modest in scope and made with the lightest of touch, not unlike the lovely folk songs that populate its soundtrack, it's also deceptively powerful: A gentle ode to moving on, in quirky packaging.' — Netflix tends to bury older films in its algorithms but the streamer is hosting a good batch of Alfred Hitchcock movies. This month, it added 'Vertigo,' 'Rear Window,' 'The Man Who Knew Too Much,' 'Frenzy,' 'The Plot' and 'The Birds' to its collection, along with the already-streaming 'Psycho.' These are movies often available elsewhere, and there are many other great Hitchcock films. But a solid sampler pack on Netflix could help bring Hitch to some new audiences, and there's never a bad time to see 'Vertigo' for the first time. — AP Film Writer Jake Coyle New music to stream from June 16-22 — 'Beautiful Things' singer Benson Boone will release his sophomore album, 'American Heart,' on Friday, June 20. Expect big pop-rock filtered through a kind of post-Harry Styles mimicry, and 1970s worship. For fans of Queen, ELO, and gymnastic pop stars with a penchant for doing backflips on stage. — The Los Angeles sister trio HAIM have returned with 'I Quit,' 15 tracks of danceable breakup bangers perfect for your summertime sadness. It's soft rock-pop for the Miu Miu crowd and a sonic cure for seasonal depression. — The Brooklyn-based R&B/soul singer-songwriter Yaya Bey will release a new album on Friday, June 20, 'do it afraid.' It's a big of a detour for the ever-evolving talent: 'Merlot and Grigio' features Bajan dancehall artist Father Philis, the dance-y 'Dream Girl' has echoes of Prince and 'Raisins' is a bit jazzy. There's a lot to love here. — For the indie crowd, the New York-based Hotline TNT have been a fan favorite for their shoegaze-y power pop that appeals to both classic rockers and those emo pop-punkers who miss the Vans' Warped Tour. On Friday, June 20, the group, led by Will Anderson, will release 'Raspberry Moon' via Jack White's Third Man Records. Across the release, they build on their guitar melodicism. — AP Music Writer Maria Sherman New series to stream from June 16-22 — In 1999 a series called 'Walking with Dinosaurs' premiered in the UK and captivated audiences. Narrated by Kenneth Branagh, it was inspired by 'Jurassic Park' and at the time was the most expensive documentary per-minute ever made. Special effects like CGI and animatronics helped bring the dinosaurs to life. Twenty-five years later, a reimagined 'Walking with Dinosaurs' debuts on PBS in conjunction with the BBC using the latest technology to make the dinosaurs seem even more lifelike. The six-episode series is now narrated by actor Bertie Carvel. It will be available to stream on PBS platforms and its app beginning Monday. — It's a great week for period pieces. First, Apple TV+'s Gilded Age, girl power series, 'The Buccaneers,' returns Wednesday for its second season. The soapy period piece features a cast that includes Kristine Froseth, Alisha Boe, Josie Totah and Christina Hendricks. It's based on an unfinished Edith Wharton novel about five American women in London for debutante season. These women are a contrast to English high society because they're extroverted and opinionated. The story is centered around Froseth's Nan who is in a love triangle although each character has their own drama to contend with. Leighton Meester has also joined the cast. — BritBox has the 1930s drama 'Outrageous," also out Wednesday. It's based on the true story of the Mitford sisters, six women born into an aristocratic family who made headlines for their personal lives and politics. Bessie Carter, who plays Penelope Featherington on 'Bridgerton' plays one of the sisters, Nancy Mitford. 'Outrageous' is inspired by a biography that was originally published in 2002. — The TV adaptation of the popular YA novel 'We Were Liars' arrives on Prime Video on Wednesday. It follows the affluent Sinclair family who has enough secrets to fill one of their bank accounts. It follows Cadence, one of the granddaughters who pals around all summer with two cousins and a family friend, Gat, and their group of four is known as The Liars. When Cadence is injured and no one will be honest with her about what happened, she attempts to piece together what happened. — Another dysfunctional family is introduced Thursday in Netflix's 'The Waterfront" about the Buckleys, a family of fisherman and restaurateurs in North Carolina. Business has been dwindling and questionable choices are made to stay afloat, keep their secrets, and not get caught by authorities. Holt McCallany ("Mindhunter") Maria Bello and Melissa Benoist star. Topher Grace and Dave Annable also have recurring roles. — A third period piece out this week is the third season of 'The Gilded Age" and there is a lot to catch up on. Cynthia Nixon's Ada Forte, now a widower after a very short marriage, has just discovered her late husband left her a fortune. This makes Ada the new matriarch of her family, surpassing her sister Agnes (played by Christine Baranski.) Their niece Marian (Louisa Jacobson) seems to be in the early stages of a courtship with neighbor Larry Russell, whose family's wealth comes from new money. Created by Julian Fellowes, the new season premieres Sunday, June 22 on Max. — Alicia Rancilio New video games to play from June 16-22 — The influence of Disney's movie 'Tron,' with its icy, neon vision of cyberspace, far outweighs the number of people who actually saw it when it came out in 1982. (I know I spent a lot more time playing the arcade game.) We are getting a third movie, 'Tron: Ares,' in October — but first we get a new game, Tron: Catalyst. You are Exo, an advanced computer program in a glitchy electronic world. You'll need to fight malware with your Identity Disc or run from it on your Light Cycle as you try to escape a malevolent entity called Conn. Developer Bithell Games' previous release, Tron: Identity, was a tightly focused mystery, and Catalyst looks to expand upon its stylish metaverse. Boot up Tuesday on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S, Switch and PC.
