Irvine : Astronaut Sally Ride’s UCI Speech Canceled

Astronaut Sally Ride’s scheduled speech Feb. 27 at UC Irvine has been canceled by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration as part of the freeze on NASA activities following the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger.

Elaine Beno, a UCI spokeswoman, said NASA notified the university Tuesday of the cancellation.

Beno said all 350 tickets for the speech had sold quickly after it was first scheduled. Ticket holders may obtain refunds by writing the Office of Arts and Lectures, UC Irvine 92717 and mailing back the tickets, with name and address enclosed.

Refunds also may be obtained in Room 148 of the UCI Administration Building, Beno said.

UCI plans to reschedule the speech at a later date, Beno said. The first American woman in space, Sally Ride is now on a 12-member panel appointed by President Reagan to investigate the cause of the shuttle disaster.