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The American Space Program Trivia Quiz

This quiz contains a variety of factoids from the history of the United States' space program.

A multiple-choice quiz by tralfaz. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
tralfaz

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
196,933

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
1201

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What does "NASA" stand for? Hint

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

National Astronomical Science Administration

National Astronautics and Space Administration

National Astronautics and Science Administration

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Question 2 of 10

2. We all know about the tragic fire during a test of Apollo 1. What was the next Apollo mission? Hint

Apollo 4

Apollo 2

Apollo 7

Apollo 11

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Question 3 of 10

3. Which of these probes is the furthest artificially made object from the sun? Hint

Voyager 1

Pioneer 11

Pioneer 10

Voyager 2

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Question 4 of 10

4. What was the name of John Glenn's Mercury capsule? Hint

Liberty Bell 7

Friendship 7

Freedom 7

Aurora 7

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Question 5 of 10

5. By 2004, only one probe had ever explored Mercury. Which was it? Hint

Mariner 7

Mariner 9

Mariner 10

Mariner 8

6. On 28 January 1986, the space shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds after takeoff but it is (symbolically) the United States' longest mission. Why? According to tradition, the mission clock is still running since they havn't landed yet.

True

False

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Question 7 of 10

7. Ranger 7 was the first American spacecraft to take a picture of the moon. What area of the moon did it photograph? Hint

Mare Tranquillitatis

Mare Orientale

Mare Nubium

Mare Serenitatis

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Question 8 of 10

8. Possibly the most famous picture a probe has ever taken was Viking 1's picture of the "Face on Mars". What region of Mars is this feature in? Hint

Cydonia Mensae

Arabia Terra

Syrtis Major

Mons Olympus

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Question 9 of 10

9. The first manned Gemini flight, Gemini 3, was (unofficially) named "Molly Brown". How did this nickname arise? Hint

It was named for Molly Brun, the first woman to head NASA.

The craft was originally painted brown to absorb heat.

It was a reference to Gus Grissom's Mercury mission.

"Molly" was the name of John Young's wife.

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Question 10 of 10

10. Jet Propulsion Laboratories processes much of the data from America's space program. Where is it located? Hint

Houston, Texas

White Sands, New Mexico

Cape Canaveral, Florida

Pasadena, California

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What does "NASA" stand for?

Answer: National Aeronautics and Space Administration

After World War II, the US Navy and Army both had their own rocketry programs. Realizing the ineffectiveness of this, President Eisenhower placed all space exploration under the civilian control of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics and renamed it the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

2. We all know about the tragic fire during a test of Apollo 1. What was the next Apollo mission?

Answer: Apollo 4

The first 4 planned flights were designated AS-201, AS-202, AS-203, and AS-204. The fire occured in AS-204 and the widows petitioned NASA to name the mission Apollo 1. NASA agreed, but refused to rename the other three missions. The next mission was unmanned and was designated Apollo 4. Apollo 7 was the first manned mission and Apollo 11 was the first to land on the moon.

3. Which of these probes is the furthest artificially made object from the sun?

Answer: Voyager 1

Although Pioneer 10 was the first object to leave the solar system, as of 17 February 1998 Voyager 1 passed it to become the furthest object from the sun that human beings have created.

4. What was the name of John Glenn's Mercury capsule?

Answer: Friendship 7

All of the Mercury capsules ended in 7 to represent the seven astronauts. Glenn named his "Friendship" to honor the friendship that the astronauts had formed during their training.

5. By 2004, only one probe had ever explored Mercury. Which was it?

Answer: Mariner 10

In addition to being the first (and so far only) craft to explore Mercury, Mariner 10 was the first to use the gravitational pull of one object (Venus) to alter course to another object. This technique is common now.

Answer: False

A beautiful story, but it is not true. I've contacted NASA about this urban legend and have been told the the official mission time is 73 seconds. There is no history of the running mission clock ever being a tradition.

7. Ranger 7 was the first American spacecraft to take a picture of the moon. What area of the moon did it photograph?

Answer: Mare Nubium

The entire Ranger series (1 to 9) cost $170 million to build during the 1960s. Compare this to $1.8 billion that the Cassini probe cost.

8. Possibly the most famous picture a probe has ever taken was Viking 1's picture of the "Face on Mars". What region of Mars is this feature in?

Answer: Cydonia Mensae

9. The first manned Gemini flight, Gemini 3, was (unofficially) named "Molly Brown". How did this nickname arise?

Answer: It was a reference to Gus Grissom's Mercury mission.

The hatch on Gus Grissom's Mercury capsule Liberty Bell 7 blew prematurely, causing it to sink. When he was selected as pilot for Gemini 3, he continued the astronaut tradition of naming his capsule. NASA overruled him, deciding to use the mission name for radio communication, but the nickname "Molly Brown" (of Titanic fame) stuck.

In a tragic irony, the hatch malfunction caused a redesign of the hatch that would figure prominantly in Grissom's death in the Apollo 1 fire.

10. Jet Propulsion Laboratories processes much of the data from America's space program. Where is it located?

Answer: Pasadena, California

California Intitute of Technology (Caltech) is also located in Pasadena, making this Los Angeles suburb a mecca for engineers.

Source: Author tralfaz

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