Famous Firsts in Space Quiz

Dog Laika was the first animal to go to space. Laika was a stray dog from Moscow, Russia, and she was chosen for the mission due to her small size and calm temperament. On November 3, 1957, she was launched into space aboard the Soviet spacecraft Sputnik 2. Unfortunately, the mission was one-way, and Laika did not survive the journey. Her sacrifice paved the way for human space exploration and highlighted the challenges and risks involved in space travel.

Yuri Gagarin is the correct answer because he was the first human to journey into outer space. On April 12, 1961, Gagarin successfully completed a single orbit around the Earth aboard the Vostok 1 spacecraft, making him a pioneer in human space exploration. His historic mission marked a significant milestone in the space race between the Soviet Union and the United States.

Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova is the correct answer because she was the first woman cosmonaut in the world. Sally Ride, Peggy Whitson, and Eileen Collins are all notable women in the field of space exploration, but they were not the first woman to go to space. Tereshkova, a Soviet cosmonaut, made history on June 16, 1963, when she became the first woman to travel to space aboard the Vostok 6 spacecraft.

Sputnik 1 was the first artificial satellite to be put into Earth's orbit. It was launched by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957. Sputnik 1 marked the beginning of the Space Age and had a significant impact on the world, sparking the Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union. Apollo 7 and Apollo 11 were both manned missions to the Moon, but they were not the first satellites to be put into Earth's orbit.

Neptune was the first planet to be discovered with the help of mathematics. In the early 19th century, astronomers noticed irregularities in the orbit of Uranus, suggesting that another planet's gravitational pull was affecting it. Using mathematical calculations, French mathematician Urbain Le Verrier predicted the existence and position of Neptune, leading to its discovery in 1846. Therefore, Neptune is the correct answer.

Alan Shepard was the first American to go into space. He achieved this milestone on May 5, 1961, aboard the Freedom 7 spacecraft as part of the Mercury-Redstone 3 mission. Shepard's flight lasted only 15 minutes but paved the way for future space exploration. His successful mission made him a national hero and a symbol of American achievement in the Space Race against the Soviet Union.

On 18 October 1963, the first cat was put in space.

Apollo-8 was the first manned spaceship that performed space flight around the moon. It was launched on December 21, 1968, and completed 10 orbits around the moon before returning to Earth. This mission was a significant milestone in space exploration as it paved the way for future moon landings and provided valuable data about lunar conditions.

The correct answer is Uranus. Uranus was the first planet discovered using a telescope. It was discovered by William Herschel on March 13, 1781. Herschel initially thought that he had discovered a comet, but further observations revealed that it was a planet. This discovery marked a significant milestone in the field of astronomy and expanded our understanding of the solar system.

Luna-10 was the first vehicle to orbit the moon.