SAN DIEGO, Sept. 6, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Not long after astronaut Sally Ride died of pancreatic cancer in 2012, her life partner, Tam O'Shaughnessy, got a call from Ray Mabus, then secretary of ...

Her obituaries let the world know a secret she had long held, that she and a woman named Tam O’Shaughnessy had been life partners for 27 years.

Ride became the first American woman in space in 1983. Her romantic relationship with Tam O’Shaughnessy became public after Ride’s death in 2012.

Dr. Tam O’Shaughnessy Appointed to Advisory Board of Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum by SpaceRef November 22, 2016. Click to share on X (Opens in new window) ...

At the end of an obituary that Ride co-wrote with her partner, Tam O'Shaughnessy, they disclosed to the world their relationship of 27 years ...

When Ride first entered space, she was in a relationship with fellow astronaut Steve Hawley, whom she married in 1982. But they divorced in 1987 and Ride entered a relationship with Tam O'Shaughnessy.

Ride became the first American woman in space in 1983. Her romantic relationship with Tam O’Shaughnessy became public after Ride’s death in 2012.

Ride became the first American woman in space in 1983. Her romantic relationship with Tam O’Shaughnessy became public after Ride’s death in 2012.

Ride became the first American woman in space in 1983. Her romantic relationship with Tam O’Shaughnessy became public after Ride’s death in 2012.

Ride became the first American woman in space in 1983. Her romantic relationship with Tam O’Shaughnessy became public after Ride’s death in 2012.