The history of women at NASA - Newsela

Read the following paragraph from the section "Human Computers"

Once NASA began using electronic computers, it no longer needed human computers. Instead, NASA needed computer programmers. These are people who write code, which is a set of instructions that tells a computer what to do. Many of these early programmers were women.

Which of the following is an accurate explanation of what this paragraph means?

• Computer programmers write instructions for astronauts to follow in space.

• Electronic computers replaced the women who worked as human computers.

• Women who worked as computers started writing computer programming code.

• NASA saved money by using electronic computers because they were much faster

Read the section “Breaking Barriers.”

Which sentence from this section supports the conclusion that Christina Koch and Jessica Meir made history at NASA?

• In 2018, NASA named Holly Ridings as its first female flight director in mission control.

• They became the first two women to do a spacewalk with only women.

• A spacewalk is an event where the astronauts leave their vehicles.

• But today, NASA says it hopes to keep improving its opportunities for women in space.

According to the section “Human Computers,” HOW did women support NASA’s spaceflights?

• They prepared astronauts for space experiments.

• They worked with data related to the NASA missions.

• They taught computer programmers how to write code.

• They encouraged NASA to switch to electronic computers.

What effect did Sally Ride have on NASA space missions?

• Her spaceflight brought attention to space shuttle missions.

• The space shuttle became a site for several new experiments.

• NASA started sending more women into space after her flight.

• Space missions created new training programs based on her work.