Aerospace Note

Sally Ride, America's First Female Astronaut, choose the occasion of her obituary, to decloset herself.

GIven today's intrusive tabloid culture, this is a tribute either to the still potent respective given to our Astronauts or a lasting example of NASA's ability to keep the lid on.

Or perhaps Garbo-like, Ms. Ride couldn't be bothered to tell us.

Anyhow, it is a small irony that Sally Ride's two Russian predecessors into space, Valentina Tereshkova and Svetlana Savitskaya are both alive and kicking, it might be a nice gesture if one of them showed up at the wake.