It Doesn't Take a Rocket Scientist... Quiz

Answer: Parachutes for space vehicles

Dr. Anita Sengupta is a familiar face to the North American Space Agency Jet Propulsion Laboratory. She works as a Senior System Engineer. Her work put her front and center in the planet exploration missions. Besides working at the North American Space Agency Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Dr. Sengupta taught Aeronautics at the University of Southern California.

Answer: Bonny Schumaker

Bonny loved animals so much she was going to be a veterinarian, but her math grades got her a physics scholarship from California Polytechnic. Bonny joined NASA and created the LISA program (Laser Inferometer Space Antenna). This program helped NASA locate black holes by using lasers connected to three spaceships placed in a triangular pattern to send out "waves" to locate black holes and other phenomenon.

After leaving NASA, Bonny used her plane to transport animals away from danger zones and relocate abandoned animals to new homes. Bonny became known as the rocket scientist who became an animal airliner.

Answer: Pensacola Christian College

Camille Wardrop Alleyne grew up in Port of Spain, Trinidad. After leaving home, Camille attended Howard University, Texas A&M, and the University of Maryland to receive her degrees in Mechanical Engineering with a specialty in Composite Materials and a second degree in Aerospace Engineering with a specialty in Hypersonic Aerodynamics and Propulsion.

Answer: Johnson's Space Center

Ginger Kerrick always wanted to be an astronaut. She attended Texas Technical University to obtain her Master's in Physics. Her dream of becoming an astronaut was dashed when she developed health problems that would keep her from space. Ginger became the face of NASA when she worked at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Texas as an astronaut trainer.

She worked at the Johnson Space Center until 2009 when the center was decommissioned. Now she trains astronauts for the International Space Station.

Answer: Navy

Jennifer Cole's dream of flying for the Navy was sidelined by vision problems. Jennifer grew up in Pennsylvania close to Willow Grove Naval Base. Jennifer went to work at Dryden Flight Research Center as Chief of the aerodynamics and propulsion branch. Jennifer may not have been able to fly planes, but she could help build them.

Answer: University of Manitoba

Yvonne Brill grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She wanted to study Chemistry but was rejected from UM due to no women's housing. From Canada, she went to California and received her Masters in Chemistry from the University of Southern California. Yvonne patented the hydrazine resistojet propulsion system in 1987.

She received the National Medal of Technology and Innovation in 2011 from President Obama. She died in March 2013 from breast cancer. Her obituary was re-written by the "NY Times" after it was criticized for mentioning her cooking accomplishments more than her accomplishments as a female rocket scientist.

Answer: Kennedy Space Center

Tiffany received her Engineering degrees from the University of Florida. After joining NASA, Tiffany worked for Kennedy Space Center as a systems engineer for the Boeing Company. when the space program was decommissioned Tiffany began taking care of the retired space vehicles.

Answer: Vietnam

Quynhgia began her career with NASA at the age of 19 when she worked as an intern for NASA's Environmental Durability Branch. She attended college and received her PhD in Chemical Bioanalytical Chemistry from the Cleveland State University of Science. She immigrated with her parents to the United States when she was seven and once in the states began to learn English.

Answer: Yes

Sabrina Thompson was the first person in her family to obtain a college education. She received a Bachelor's degree in Science at Stony Brook and a Masters in Aerospace Engineering from Georgia University. After graduating, Sabrina went to work at Goddard Space Center as a Safety Engineer.

Answer: Sally Ride

Sally Ride was one of six women out of thirty-five to make it through the space program in 1978. She attended Stanford University and received a PhD in Physics. Sally was the first American female to go to space where she spent six days in the Challenger.

After her first space mission, Sally went to space one more time in 1983. She retired in 1987 and went to work as a Physics teacher at UC San Diego. She passed away at the age of sixty-one from cancer.