In the wake of SpaceX’s successful launch of two astronauts going to space, Donald Trump aiming to have US astronauts set up a base on the moon with the next few years and, of course, the Netflix sensation ‘Space Force’, there has been a renewed interest in spaceflight. It is even having huge financial effects as investors are now queuing up to buy stocks in private space companies. After feeling like the space race was over and space exploration was going at a snail’s pace, all of a sudden, the outer universe has become the centre of attention.
It might be time then to brush up on your knowledge of human spaceflight so far. We’ve created a quiz with lots of essential questions (and answers) about man’s journey into space thus far. Enjoy!
*Scroll down for the answers
Round 1: Space Race
1 - What was the name of the German rocketing pioneer who developed the V-2 rocket during the Second World War? Hint: He shares his name with a famous brand of electric shaver.
2 - An American rocketing pioneer was ridiculed by the New York Times for claiming rockets could go to the moon. His first names were Robert Hutchings but what was his surname?
3 - In which year was NASA established? (Points awarded to within 3 years of the answer)
4 - What does NASA stand for?
5 - The Cold War saw much aerospace competition between the USA and the Soviet Union. In which year did it start?
6 - The Cold War is generally viewed as ending with the dissolution of the Soviet Union, two years after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Which year did the Cold War end?
7 - Which English writer was the first to use the term ‘Cold War’?
8 - The idea of space travel hit the movie theatres. In which year were the American movies ‘The Day the Earth Stood Still’ and ‘When Worlds Collide’ released? (Points awarded to within 3 years of the answer)
9 - The Russians were the first to successfully launch a satellite (Sputnik 1) in August 1957. In November 1957, the Russians launched Sputnik 2 with an animal onboard. What type of animal was it? (1 point) What was its name? (Bonus Point)
10 - 8 years before the first moon landing, which US president announced plans for going to the moon?
Round 2: Man on the Moon
11 - In which year did man first land on the moon?
12 - What was the name of the spacecraft which first successfully reached the moon?
13 - Who was the president of the United States at the time of the moon landing?
14 - How many astronauts were onboard the first successful mission to the moon? And, for a bonus point, what are their names?
15 - What was the name of the lunar module which detached from the main spacecraft to deploy the first man on the moon? Bonus point: what did the person piloting the lunar module famously say on touch down?
17 - How many pounds of moon rock was brought back from the first moon landing mission? (Points given to within 5 pounds of the answer)
18 - In which city was the mission control based for the first moon landing?
19 - In which ocean did the first moon landing spacecraft land?
20 - What did the astronauts from the first moon landing do for the first 21 days back on Earth?
Round 3: Modern Spaceflight
21 - Which was the first war in which satellites played a major role and helped to bring a quicker resolution to the conflict?
22 - The International Space Station has been continuously occupied since which year?
23 - The international Space Station is a symbol of global cooperation and it has hosted astronauts, cosmonauts and space tourists from how many different countries? (Points awarded to answers within 3 of the answer)
24 - In 2015, the first food was grown in space (and eaten). What was the food?
25 - Which nation landed the first operational rover on an asteroid in 2018?
26 - In which year was the first landing on the far side of the moon? Which nation was behind this? (One point for each answer)
27 - In 2001, Dennis Tito became the first space tourist when he hitched a ride on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft. How much did he pay? (Points awarded for answers within $5 million)
28 - Sir Richard Branson and Burt Rutan announced plans to build the first commercial spacecraft. Soon after, Virgin Galactic was started. In which year was Virgin Galactic founded?
29 - In which year was SpaceX founded? (Points to within 3 years of answers)
30 - SpaceX was the first private company to launch a human orbital spaceflight, but which superhero is the Founder and CEO of SpaceX often compared to?
The History of Spaceflight - Answers
Round 1: The Space Race
1 - Wernher von Braun
2 - Goddard
3 - 1958
4 - National Aeronautics and Space Administration
5 - 1947
6 - 1991
7 - George Orwell
8 - 1951
9 - Dog, Laika
10 - John F Kennedy
Round 2: Man on the Moon
11 - 1969
12 - Apollo 11
13 - Richard Nixon
14 - 3: Neil Armstrong, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, Michael Collins
15 - Eagle, The Eagle has landed
17 - 50 pounds
18 - Houstan, Texas
19 - Pacific Ocean
20 - They were in quarantine for 21 days to check if they had picked up any diseases from the Moon.
Round 3: Modern Spaceflight
21 - The Gulf War
22 - 2000
23 - 18
24 - Lettuce
25 - Japan
26 - 2019, China
27 - $20 million
28 - 2005
29 - 2002
30 - Iron Man