Women in Space--- Let's hear it for the girls! Trivia Quiz | History

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Who has the distinction of being the first woman in space?

Answer: Valentina Tereshkova

Valentina was launched into space on Vostok 6, 6/16/63, making world history. Interestingly, Valentina was not a scientist when recruited to the cosmonaut program. She worked at a textile factory and was an avid parachutist. It was her expertise in jumping that led to her selection. The rest, as they say, is history.

Natalya Kuleshova is a cosmonaut who never made it to space. Barbara Morgan was the backup teacher for Christa McAuliffe on the ill-fated Challenger. Maureen Robinson is a fictionalized space traveler from the TV show "Lost in Space".

2. Who was the first American woman in space?

Answer: Sally K. Ride

It was a full 20 years after the Soviets that NASA sent physicist Sally Ride into space aboard the STS-& Challeger on 06/18/83. Dr. Ride flew on two more space missions and served on the commission that investigated the 1986 Challenger accident.

Sally Struthers is an American actress and Hillary Clinton is a politician. Laura Roslin is a fictionalized space traveler from the TV show "Battlestar Galactica".

3. This woman made her way into the history books as the first to complete a space walk.

Answer: Svetlana Savitskaya

Svetlana Savitskaya was also the second woman to go into space. Unlike Tereshkova, she was actually a cosmonaut. Like Tereshkova, she was an avid parachutist (450 jumps by age 17) and began pilot training at 18, qualifying on 20 types of aircraft. Her space walk lasted 3.83 hours and was part of the Soyuz T-12 mission.

Dr. Johnston and Tatyana Kuznestova trained, but unfortunatley, never got to fly into space. Padme Amidala is a fictionalized character from "Star Wars".

4. She was not only the first African-American woman in space, but also the first woman of color to venture out of Earth's atmosphere.

Answer: Mae Jemison

Dr. Mae Jemison made history aboard the space shuttle Endeavour on 09/12/92. Unfortunately for NASA, she resigned the following year. Dr. Jemison is fluent in Russian, Japanese and Swahili. She has also volunteered at a Cambodian refugee camp and with the Peace Corps in West Africa.

Dr. Yvonne Cagle is an African-American astronaut who has not flown to space, yet. Oprah Winfrey is a TV personality. (Samara) Uhura is a fictionalized character from TV's "Star Trek". There is some dispute as to her first name, but I liked Samara better than the other choices.

5. In the two years following the first African-American female, 1993 and 1994 respectively, NASA sent the first Hispanic-American and the first Japanese women in to space. Who were they?

Answer: Ochoa & Mukai

Dr. Ochoa's first flight was on STS 56 Discovery on 04/17/93. To date (10/07), she has four flights to her credit. Dr. Mukai flew into history aboard Columbia's flight STS-65 on 07/23/94. She is one of only two female members of JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (iss.jaxa.jp).

Marianne Merchez is a Belgian astronaut; Ryoko Kikuchi a Japanese TV reporter/cosmonaut. Neither ever went into space. Salma Hayek is an actress and Kristi Yamaguchi is a figure skater. Turanga Leela and Wilma Deering are fictionalized space travelers from TV - "Futurama" and "Babylon 5".

6. The distinction of being the first woman to pilot a space shuttle mission belongs to this astronaut.

Answer: Eileen Collins

Eileen Collins piloted the shuttle Discovery on flight STS-63, February 3-11, 1995, securing her place in history. The Russian-American space program was newly created, and this was its first flight. She was also the first female shuttle commander--- Shuttle Columbia, July 23-27, 1999, earning another spot in the history books.

Stephanie Wilson is the second African-American woman to fly in space. Ellen Degeneres is a TV personality. Judy Jetson is a fictionalized space inhabitant from the cartoon "The Jetsons".

7. This American has the honor of being the first woman to command a space station.

Answer: Peggy Whitson

Dr. Whitson won her place in history by commanding the International Space Station during her 6 month stay in 2002. She arrived aboard the STS-11 Endeavour on 06/07/02. She is currently (10/07)again aboard the ISS for another six month stint, again as commander. Upon its completion, she will have another 'first'; this time with the American record for cumulative time in space.

Roberta Bondar is the first Canadian woman in space. Martha Grimes is an author. Sally Solomon is a fictionalized space traveler from the TV show "3rd Rock From the Sun".

8. This woman found her way into pages of history by paying her own way into space. She was also the first Iranian to make the trip. Who is this 'spaceflight participant'?

Answer: Anousheh Ansari

Though she is better known as the first 'female space tourist', Anousheh Ansari is said to prefer the term 'spaceflight participant'. She flew into space aboard the Soyuz TMA-9 on 09/18/06 and actually conducted a few experiments on behalf of the European Space Agency. Wow, what a vacation!

Dr. Kalpana Chawla would have been the first female Indian in space had she not been aboard the ill-fated Columbia in 2003. Emma Watson is an actress. Helena Russell is a fictionalized space traveler from the TV show "Space 1999".

9. This woman was the first non-American and non-Russian woman to travel into space. In fact, she is considered to be Britain's first astronaut.

Answer: Helen Sharman

Dr. Sharman found her way into space by answering a radio ad for applicants to be the 'first Britsh astronaut'. She beat out approximately 13,000 others and underwent 18 months of intensive flight training. Dr. Sharman journeyed into space aboard Soyuz TM-14 Mir Juno, docking with the ISS on 05/18/91.

Dr. Bondar was the first Canadian female astronaut. Joss Stone is a British singer. Kristine Kochanski is fictionalized space traveler from the TV comedy "Red Dwarf".

10. This woman could be considered the first female astronaut as she was the first American female to pass the rigorous physical and psychological testing required of the Mercury 7 astronauts. She helped recruit more women to take the tests. Sadly, she and the rest of the Mercury 13, never got their day in space.

Answer: Geraldyne 'Jerrie' Cobb

NASA remained convinced that astronauts had to be qualified test pilots. That is, until the Soviets sent a textile worker into space. Myrtle Cagle and Jean Hixson were also part of the Mercury 13. The other ten are: Wally Funk, Irene Leverton, Jane Hart, Bernice Steadman, Gene Stomough, Geraldine Truhill, Rhea Hurrle, Sarah Gorelick, Jan Dietrich and Jerri Sloan.

Samantha Carter is a fictionalized space traveler from the TV series "Stargate-SG-1".

Source: Author zenitth

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Women in Space--- Let's hear it for the girls! Quiz

This is a general quiz celebrating women in space and their stellar accomplishments. Come fly with me....

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>