UNITED STATES -- The first American woman in space has died. A spokesperson says Ride passed away Monday after a 17 month battle with pancreatic cancer.

Ride blasted off into orbit aboard the Challenger in 1983. She went into space twice more and served on the commission that investigated the Challenger accident in 1986.

After leaving NASA, she created her own company to motivate girls and young women to pursue careers in science, math and technology.

Sally Ride was 61.