The Space Race Quiz
What was the name of the rhesus monkey that was used to test NASA's launch-escape system in the Mercury spacecraft?
- With the full title of Sam the Monkey Astronaut, this brave animal launched on December 4, 1959, and survived his expedition.
What was the first animal that was sent to space to orbit Earth?
- On November 3, 1957, Laika the dog was sent around Earth within a Soviet spacecraft called the Sputnik 2.
How many flags have been planted on the Moon?
- Though each US Apollo Moon landing has left behind a flag for a total of 6, one was knocked over by a landing module and only 5 are standing today.
Which war was a primary instigator for multiple countries wanting to expand their perimeters into space?
- With incidents like the Cuban missile crisis and the Berlin Wall's construction, Soviet influence was greatly feared by Western nations, prompting space expeditions and further competition between the powers.
What year was NASA created?
- President Dwight D. Eisenhower created the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in 1958— also known as NASA.
When was the first manned space mission to orbit the Moon?
- Apollo 8 launched from NASA's Florida facility and was the first manned spacecraft to orbit the Moon.
Which country was the first to launch a satellite into space?
- The Soviet Sputnik 1 was launched on October 4, 1957, making it the first country in the Space Race to successfully do so.
Who was the second man to set foot on the Moon?
- Armstrong and Aldrin were the first and second men to walk on the Moon, respectively, leaving behind the first human footprint on its surface.
How many people have walked on the Moon in total?
- Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Charles Conrad, Alan Bean, Alan Shepard, Edgar Mitchell, David Scott, James Irwin, John Young, Charles Duke, Eugene Cernan, and Harrison Schmitt have all walked on the Moon.
What was the spacecraft called that carried the first human to orbit around the Earth, Yuri Gagarin?
- The Vostock 1 was the name of the space capsule that successfully carried the Soviet astronaut around the Earth, as the first human to complete the trip.
