Rise of the Rocket Girls audiobook cover - The Women Who Propelled Us, from Missiles to the Moon to Mars

Rise of the Rocket Girls

The Women Who Propelled Us, from Missiles to the Moon to Mars

Nathalia Holt

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Biography & Memoir

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Rise of the Rocket Girls
Early JPL & First Computers+
Military Contracts & Expansion+
Space Race & Early Satellites+
NASA Transition & Planets+
Deep Space Missions+
Workplace Culture & Feminism+
Legacy & Modern Impact+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 8
Why did the founders of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) initially claim their experiments dealt strictly with 'jet engines' rather than 'rockets'?
  • A. They were secretly developing weapons for the US military and needed a cover story.
  • B. The word 'rocket' was strongly associated with science fiction and lacked scientific credibility.
  • C. They did not understand the physics of rocket propulsion until the late 1950s.
  • D. They wanted to avoid patent disputes with other established aerospace companies.
Question 2 of 8
What was the primary role of the 'computers' hired by JPL in the 1940s and 1950s?
  • A. To program the first room-sized electronic mainframes for NASA.
  • B. To design the physical hardware and metal casings for early missiles.
  • C. To manually perform complex mathematical calculations for propulsion and trajectories.
  • D. To assemble and test the explosive propellants in the laboratory.
Question 3 of 8
How did the female computing team contribute to the development of the Corporal missile and the future of space exploration?
  • A. They calculated the multi-stage launch technique that allowed rockets to travel long distances and escape Earth's gravity.
  • B. They discovered the optimal chemical mixture for 'Jack's cake' propellant.
  • C. They negotiated the lucrative contracts with the Department of Defense to fund the missile program.
  • D. They piloted the small planes used to test the early jet engine prototypes.
Question 4 of 8
Why did the Soviet Union's Sputnik beat JPL's Jupiter-C rocket in becoming the first satellite in space?
  • A. JPL's rocket exploded on the launchpad due to a calculation error by the computing team.
  • B. The Jupiter-C launch was only a test and carried sandbags instead of a real satellite.
  • C. The Department of Defense confiscated JPL's satellite for a classified navy project.
  • D. The female computers at JPL went on strike to protest unequal pay, delaying the launch.
Question 5 of 8
How did the human computing team at JPL initially react to the introduction of early electronic computers in the 1960s?
  • A. They immediately lost their jobs and were replaced by the machines.
  • B. They found the machines to be slower and less reliable than top human computers.
  • C. They refused to use them until they were granted official engineering degrees.
  • D. They used the machines to instantly calculate the Voyager mission's Grand Tour.
Question 6 of 8
As electronic computers eventually became faster and more reliable, how did the role of the female computers at JPL evolve?
  • A. They transitioned into administrative and secretarial roles within NASA.
  • B. They took courses in coding and computer languages to program and manage the electronic machines.
  • C. They were transferred to the mission control center to work exclusively as flight directors.
  • D. They focused entirely on training the first generation of female astronauts.
Question 7 of 8
Despite its progressive hiring of an all-female computing team, what discriminatory practice did women at JPL face until the late 1960s?
  • A. They were not allowed to enter the mission control room during a launch.
  • B. They were paid significantly less than male typists and janitors.
  • C. They were expected to quit their jobs immediately if they became pregnant.
  • D. They were forbidden from taking night school classes or pursuing engineering degrees.
Question 8 of 8
Which lasting contribution, heavily developed by computer Sue Finley, remains the primary line of communication for US space missions today?
  • A. The Microlock tracking system
  • B. The Deep Space Network (DSN)
  • C. The HAL programming language
  • D. The multi-stage launch protocol

Rise of the Rocket Girls — Full Chapter Overview

Rise of the Rocket Girls Summary & Overview

Rise of the Rocket Girls (2016) reveals the intriguing and enlightening stories of the women who worked at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. It traces the laboratory from its earliest days through to modern times, from its quirky beginnings to its role as one of NASA’s most important component parts. These women were responsible for crunching numbers and the important calculations that kept the United States in the space race and helped launch rockets, satellites and probes into the farthest corners of the solar system. Their influence cannot be denied. And, more than that, it must be acknowledged.

Who Should Listen to Rise of the Rocket Girls?

  • Readers who seek strong female role models
  • Science geeks
  • Space enthusiasts

About the Author: Nathalia Holt

Nathalia Holt’s work has been featured in the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, Popular Science and the Atlantic. She spent years speaking to the women of JPL and compiling their stories. She is also the author of Cured: The People who Defeated HIV.

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