Eileen Collins — Questions and answers

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What important historical achievement did Eileen Collins accomplish on July 23, 1999?

Choices

  1. She was the first woman to ever fly in space.
  2. She became the first woman to command a United States space mission. ✓
  3. She flew the Space Shuttle Columbia for the very first time.
  4. She became the first woman to land on the moon.

Answer: She became the first woman to command a United States space mission.

From page 1

How did Eileen Collins prepare for her journey to become an astronaut?

Choices

  1. She only studied books about space in a classroom.
  2. She became an elite test pilot in the U.S. Air Force. ✓
  3. She worked as a flight attendant for many years.
  4. She taught university students how to build rockets.

Answer: She became an elite test pilot in the U.S. Air Force.

From page 2

What historic role did Eileen Collins have on the STS-63 mission in February 1995?

Choices

  1. She was the first woman to walk in space.
  2. She was the first female pilot of a Space Shuttle mission. ✓
  3. She designed the Russian Mir space station.
  4. She was the first woman to speak Russian in space.

Answer: She was the first female pilot of a Space Shuttle mission.

From page 4

What are some of the main responsibilities of a Space Shuttle Commander?

Choices

  1. Just flying the shuttle to its destination.
  2. Leading the crew, making decisions, and overseeing the entire mission. ✓
  3. Cooking meals and entertaining the crew in space.
  4. Only maintaining the shuttle's engines and nothing else.

Answer: Leading the crew, making decisions, and overseeing the entire mission.

From page 5