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Fifteen Minutes to Takeoff Trivia Quiz

There was a lot that happened in the final fifteen minutes before a space shuttle went up! Here's a look at some of those things.

A multiple-choice quiz by George95. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
George95

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
339,816

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
496

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The astronomers needed to make sure that they could launch during a "launch window" if they wanted to meet with another spacecraft in space. What was the biggest reason for launching in a "launch window"? Hint

So the shuttle could get into the right orbit

So the shuttle actually took off

So the shuttle didn't with any birds

So the astronauts didn't get ill

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Question 2 of 10

2. Which of these is true about NASA's launch site, Kennedy Space Center? Hint

It is a wildlife sanctuary

The area is as big as Rhode Island

It is on the grounds of a Civil War battle

None of these

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Question 3 of 10

3. How close can onlookers come to the space shuttle during the launch? Hint

5 miles

950 feet

400 feet

1 mile

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Question 4 of 10

4. One thing to do before a launch is to make sure the astronauts are in! Has NASA ever launched an unmanned shuttle?

Yes

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Question 5 of 10

5. A pre-launch check involves lots of acronyms. One major part is the APU that needs to be checked. What is the APU? Hint

Automatic Power Unit

Auxiliary Power Unit

Audio Playback Unit

Apu Nahasapeemapetilon

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Question 6 of 10

6. Name one of the two elements which are found in a shuttle's external tank.

Answer: (Water!)

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Question 7 of 10

7. What was the longest mission ever for a space shuttle? Hint

7 months and 6 days

1 month

17 days

11 days

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Question 8 of 10

8. Each shuttle mission was given a name of STS-#, with the number being which shuttle launch it is. What does STS stand for? Hint

Systematical Takeoff Setup

Sequence of Takeoff Steps

Space Takeoff Structure

Space Transportation System

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Question 9 of 10

9. On average, how much money did it cost to launch a space shuttle? Hint

$88 million

$10 million

$450 million

$1 billion

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Question 10 of 10

10. When did NASA send up its final space shuttle, Atlantis, for the final time? Hint

October 17, 2009

July 8, 2011

March 1, 2010

April 20, 2011

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: So the shuttle could get into the right orbit

A launch window can last from minutes to hours, depending on weather and the location of the spacecraft. When simply launching into orbit, almost any time will do.

2. Which of these is true about NASA's launch site, Kennedy Space Center?

Answer: It is a wildlife sanctuary

Before each launch, park rangers take to the nearby fields surrounding the launch pad to remove all birds and animals that have a home nearby. They remove the creatures by using foghorns, or offering food to lure them away. Some animals found in the area are the bald eagle, American alligator, Eastern Diamondback rattlesnake, and Florida panther.

3. How close can onlookers come to the space shuttle during the launch?

Answer: 1 mile

With the sheer sounds of a space shuttle launch, everyone in a one mile radius would die of the sound. That is another reason why all wildlife is removed from the area before takeoff. The closest people to a launch are firefighters, who are in a heavy-duty almost tank-like vehicle, so they would be a first responder if something went wrong during the launch.

4. One thing to do before a launch is to make sure the astronauts are in! Has NASA ever launched an unmanned shuttle?

Answer: No

All NASA-launched missions carried astronauts to their desired location, except for the two tragic shuttle crashes. STS 61-A carried the most out of all operations, taking 9 astronauts into space. X-37B was launched by the US Air Force, and stayed in orbit for 220 days before landing on its own. That mission happened in 2010.

5. A pre-launch check involves lots of acronyms. One major part is the APU that needs to be checked. What is the APU?

Answer: Auxiliary Power Unit

The APU is checked with 5-10 minutes before. Astronauts need to make sure that the APU is set to certain levels for different parts of the shuttle. The two main parts controlled by the APU is the fuel tank and the hydraulics.

6. Name one of the two elements which are found in a shuttle's external tank.

Answer: Hydrogen

The shuttle`s external tank appears as the red/orange "cling-on" to the shuttle. The external tank is released from the shuttle minutes after the launch. When a shuttle launches from Kennedy Space Center, it usually lands in the Atlantic Ocean about 120-180 km away from the launch site. One external tank (also called boosters) is 153 feet in length!

7. What was the longest mission ever for a space shuttle?

Answer: 17 days

STS-80 Columbia lifted off on November 19, 1996 and landed 17 days, 15 hours, 53 minutes, and 18 seconds later on December 7. Bad weather prevented a landing for two days, to the seventh. It was the 21st mission for Columbia, which disintegrated upon re-entry in 2003.

8. Each shuttle mission was given a name of STS-#, with the number being which shuttle launch it is. What does STS stand for?

Answer: Space Transportation System

STS-1 was the first shuttle launch (Columbia) and went up in 1981. It was the original name for the Space Shuttle program.

9. On average, how much money did it cost to launch a space shuttle?

Answer: $450 million

The money is spent, among other things, on the equipment, as well as the gas the shuttle uses. They also need to pay salaries of all the astronauts as well as the crew members who stay on the ground. The cost to actually build a space shuttle is around $1.7 billion, which is what NASA spent on building the shuttle "Endeavour".

10. When did NASA send up its final space shuttle, Atlantis, for the final time?

Answer: July 8, 2011

Atlantis launched for its 32nd mission and the 135th and final space shuttle mission. The main object of the final mission was to take supplies of food, clothing and other items to the International Space Station.

Source: Author George95

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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