Miss Pickerell in Space — Important Questions

She floated right out of the bunk

The text says 'the bare movement of her arm lifted her right out of the bunk where she was lying.' This happened because of the lack of gravity in space. Even a small movement was enough to make her float away. Mr Killian had to push her gently back and told her to fasten a strap so she would not float away again.

He let it go and it stayed floating in the air

Wilbur greeted Miss Pickerell by tipping his cap, and then he released it from his fingers. Because there was no gravity in space, the cap remained suspended (floating) in the air instead of falling down. This amazed Miss Pickerell and she said 'Forevermore!' — which is the expression she uses to show great surprise.

Writing a speech to give when they got back to Earth

Wilbur told Mr Killian that the Captain was in his own compartment writing a speech to give when they got back to Earth. Mr Killian said it was pointless since without Haggerty to do the calculations, they might never get back. The Captain was not checking instruments (that was Mr Killian's job), not sleeping, and not doing calculations (that was Haggerty's job).

He was swimming through the air

The text says Miss Pickerell saw something moving from the corner of her eye and 'gasped at what she saw. The young man, Wilbur...was not walking. He was swimming.' Because there is no gravity in space, people cannot walk normally. Instead, they float and move their arms and legs like they are swimming. This was a very surprising sight for Miss Pickerell.