Space Exploration

At approximately what height does the International Space Station (ISS) orbit the earth?
1. 330 km
2. 33 km
3. 3.3 km
4. 3,300 km
The minimum speed needed for an object to "break free" from the gravitational attraction of a planet or moon is known as
1. escape velocity
2. terminal velocity
3. final velocity
4. initial velocity
The escape velocity from Earth is about
1. 40,000 km/h
2. 120 km/hr
3. 300,000,000 m/s
4. 330 m/s
The International Space Station orbits the Earth every
1. 93 minutes
2. 28 days
3. 17 minutes
4. 24 hours
Which one of the following is/are NOT in geostationary orbit around the Earth?
1. The International Space Station
2. Weather satellites
3. Communications satellites
4. Weather balloons
Gunpowder for rockets was invented by the ___________ about one thousand years ago.
1. Chinese
2. Germans
3. Peruvians
4. Persians
The first artificial satellite was launched by the Russians in 1957. This was called
1. Sputnik
2. Explorer
3. Vanguard
4. Pioneer
The first man in space was
1. Yuri Gagarin
2. Neil Armstrong
3. Buzz Aldrin
4. Spock
The first American in space was
1. Alan Shepard
2. Neil Armstrong
3. Buzz Aldrin
4. John Glenn
Valentin Tereshkova is famous for being the
1. first woman in space
2. the only woman to land on the Moon
3. first woman on the International Space Station (ISS)
4. the first woman to walk in space
In what year did man first land on the surface of the Moon?
1. 1969
2. 1967
3. 1971
4. 1965
During what series of space missions did Armstrong and Aldrin land on the Moon?
1. Apollo
2. Mercury
3. Gemini
4. Skylab
On landing on the moon, Neil Armstrong is reported to have said "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for ___________."
1. mankind
2. humanity
3. us
4. everybody
Which one of the following statements is correct?
1. Only twelve people have landed on the Moon's surface.
2. The Russians landed on the Moon a year after the US landed there.
3. Only one European has landed on the moon.
4. The last Moon landing was in 2001.
The first unmanned spacecraft to land on Mars was in 1976. It was called
1. Viking 1
2. Apollo 13
3. Apollo 11
4. Viking 3
What is the name of the famous telescope launched into space in 1990?
1. Hubble
2. Viking
3. Challenger
4. Skylab
When did construction of the International Space Station begin?
1. 1998
2. 1990
3. 2008
4. 2003
The amount of time taken from the moment the order is given to launch a rocket to the time that it actually gets launched is known as
1. the countdown period
2. the lift off
3. the blast off
4. re-entry
What is the difference between splashdown and touchdown?
1. Splashdown is when a space capsule lands in water, and touchdown is when it lands on land.
2. Splashdown is when a space capsule lands on land, and touchdown is when it lands on water.
3. There is no difference.
4. Splashdown is when a space capsule lands on earth, and touchdown is when an astronaut enters the international space station.
A spacecraft sent to study other planets in the Solar System is known as
1. a space probe
2. a space shuttle
3. an orbiter
4. a satellite
The Apollo missions to the Moon were sent up to space using a giant launcher over 100 m tall. This was a multi-stage rocket. There are usually _____ stages in a multi-stage rocket.
1. three
2. two
3. four
4. five
A rocket moves forward when ___________ is expelled from the rear of the rocket.
1. gas
2. water
3. fuel
4. heat
The Moon is a satellite.
1. TRUE
2. FALSE
The Moon orbits the Earth, and the Earth obits the Sun. These bodies are held in orbit about each other by a special force. What is this force called?
1. Gravitational force
2. Magnetic force
3. Electrical force
4. Nuclear force
There are four main stages in the journey of a rocket from Earth to the Moon.
Which part of this journey would require the most fuel?
1. Ascending into Earth's orbit
2. Descending on to the surface of the Moon.
3. Escaping from Earth's orbit.
4. The journey to the Moon
Which of the following statements is NOT true for a satellite that is in a geostationary orbit?
1. The satellite will pass over the Earth in one day.
2. The satellite will always be in the same position when viewed from Earth.
3. The satellite will be perfect for telephone and television communications because it will always be in the same place.
4. It can be used for monitoring the weather.
Telescopes placed upon satellites, such as the Hubble Space Telescope, produce better images of planets than Earth-based telescopes.
Why this is?
1. They can observe the planets without the distortion and blurring caused by the Earth's atmosphere.
2. The telescopes are closer to the planets being looked at.
3. Because of zero gravity, larger telescopes can be used.
4. They do not have to contend with atmospheric turbulence.
Space probes are used to explore distant bodies.
Which of the following is the furthest these space probes have travelled?
1. Our Solar System
2. The Sun
3. The Moon
4. Our galaxy
The ISS and Mir are examples of
1. space stations
2. communications satellites
3. space shuttles
4. rocket launchers
Which one of the following can happen to astronauts on the ISS?
1. Pulse slows down and blood pressure drops.
2. Pulse slows down and blood pressure increases.
3. Pulse increases and blood pressure drops.
4. Pulse increases and muscles waste.
Which one of the following is not a hazard when space walking?
1. The Earth's gravity
2. High temperatures when facing the Sun
3. Space junk orbiting the Earth
4. Radiation from the Sun
Scientists are looking into developing a space elevator for getting into space.
Because steel cables would be too heavy, they are looking at another lightweight material made from
1. carbon nanotubes
2. nylon
3. silicon crystals
4. diamond crystals
One of the problems facing future colonising of Mars is its atmosphere.
It consists mainly of
1. carbon dioxide
2. methane
3. nitrogen
4. helium
The average temperature on the surface of Mars is
1. -55 ^oCelsius
2. 100 ^oCelsius
3. 45 ^oCelsius
4. -100 ^oCelsius
What type of living animal was the first to be sent into space?
1. Dog
2. Monkey
3. Cat
4. Mouse
Which one of the following broke on the international space station, causing problems for astronauts?
1. The toilet
2. The TV
3. Their radio linking it to NASA
4. Their Playstation
The first country to launch a satellite into space was
1. Russia
2. United States
3. Japan
4. France
The Drake equation calculates
1. the chances of life being found elsewhere in our galaxy
2. the chances of life on Mars
3. the probability of being invaded by aliens
4. the probability that the Earth has a twin
Which one of the following is NOT an obstacle to sending a manned mission to Mars?
1. Lack of volunteers
2. The cost
3. Amount of supplies needed
4. Length of trip

Space Exploration

Multiple Choice Quiz