Space Exploration - Advanced - Australia & New Zealand

1. The first person to set foot on the moon was___.

Neil Armstrong

Michael Collins

Buzz Aldrin

Alan Shepard

Aldrin, Armstrong, and Collins were all astronauts aboard Apollo 11. Only Aldrin and Armstrong ventured down from the space capsule to the moon's surface. Armstrong was the first to step out of the lunar lander, Aldrin soon followed.

Explanation

Aldrin, Armstrong, and Collins were all astronauts aboard Apollo 11. Only Aldrin and Armstrong ventured down from the space capsule to the moon's surface. Armstrong was the first to step out of the lunar lander, Aldrin soon followed.

2. Who was the first person in space?

Alan Shepard

Yuri Gagarin

Neil Armstrong

Nikita Khrushchev

3. The New Horizon probe was sent to explore___.

The asteroid belt

Neptune

Uranus

Pluto and the Kuiper Belt

The New Horizons probe was launched in January 2006. It will not reach Pluto until July 2015, over nine years later. The probe will not stay long, flying past Pluto and its moons before traveling further into the Kuiper Belt.

Explanation

The New Horizons probe was launched in January 2006. It will not reach Pluto until July 2015, over nine years later. The probe will not stay long, flying past Pluto and its moons before traveling further into the Kuiper Belt.

4. A space probe has passed close to every planet in the solar system

True

False

Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn have all been visited by a probe at least once. Neptune (1989) and Uranus (1986) were visited by Voyager 2.

Explanation

Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn have all been visited by a probe at least once. Neptune (1989) and Uranus (1986) were visited by Voyager 2.

5. How many countries have launched a human into space?

2

3

4

5

In 2003, China joined Russia and the United States as the only countries to place a person in space. Yang Liwei orbited Earth in the space capsule Shenzhou 5 for over 22 hours before returning to Earth.

Explanation

In 2003, China joined Russia and the United States as the only countries to place a person in space. Yang Liwei orbited Earth in the space capsule Shenzhou 5 for over 22 hours before returning to Earth.

6. The United States landed___Apollo missions on the moon.

4

5

6

7

7. Which space probe is expected to eventually leave the solar system?

Pioneer 10

Pioneer 11

Voyager 1

Voyager 2

The two Voyager probes were launched in 1977. Scientists expect the furthest of the two, Voyager 1, to move out into interstellar space (the space between stars) within the next few years.

Explanation

The two Voyager probes were launched in 1977. Scientists expect the furthest of the two, Voyager 1, to move out into interstellar space (the space between stars) within the next few years.

8. What year was the first woman launched into space?

1963

1973

1983

1993

The Soviet Union was the first country to launch an object (satellite), animal (dog), man, and woman into space. Valentina Tereshkova was launched into space on June 16 aboard Vostok 6.

Explanation

The Soviet Union was the first country to launch an object (satellite), animal (dog), man, and woman into space. Valentina Tereshkova was launched into space on June 16 aboard Vostok 6.

9. The Planck space craft has produced the most detailed pictures of the___.

Sun

Cosmic microwave background

Interstellar cosmic rays

Mercury

The cosmic microwave background (CMB) is energy left over from the early universe. This energy takes the form of electromagnetic waves called microwaves. The CMB radiation formed in the heat of the early universe and cooled as the universe expanded. Planck was launched to map the CMB in great detail. Observations of the CMB give scientists a direct view of the universe more than 13 billion years ago, about 380,000 years after the big bang.

Explanation

The cosmic microwave background (CMB) is energy left over from the early universe. This energy takes the form of electromagnetic waves called microwaves. The CMB radiation formed in the heat of the early universe and cooled as the universe expanded. Planck was launched to map the CMB in great detail. Observations of the CMB give scientists a direct view of the universe more than 13 billion years ago, about 380,000 years after the big bang.

10. The first working probe to land on another planet was___.

Explorer 1

Mariner 1

Viking 1

Pioneer 10

The Soviet Union successfully landed a space capsule on Mars before Viking 1 landed. However the Soviet probe malfunctioned and was unable to send useful information back to Earth. Viking 1 landed in July 1976 followed about a month later by Viking 2.

Explanation

The Soviet Union successfully landed a space capsule on Mars before Viking 1 landed. However the Soviet probe malfunctioned and was unable to send useful information back to Earth. Viking 1 landed in July 1976 followed about a month later by Viking 2.