Astronomy Astronomy Space Exploration and Missions 2

Question 1

Which agency launched the Hubble Space Telescope in 1990?

Accepted Answer

NASA

Answer

NASA launched the Hubble Space Telescope aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery on April 24, 1990.

Question 2

What was the first crewed spacecraft to orbit the Moon?

Accepted Answer

Apollo 8

Answer

Apollo 8 in December 1968 was the first crewed spacecraft to orbit the Moon, with astronauts Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and Bill Anders aboard.

Question 3

What is the International Space Station's approximate orbital altitude?

Accepted Answer

400 km

Answer

The ISS orbits Earth at approximately 400 km altitude, completing about 16 orbits per day.

Question 4

Which mission first photographed Pluto up close in 2015?

Accepted Answer

New Horizons

Answer

NASA's New Horizons spacecraft performed a flyby of Pluto in July 2015, providing the first detailed images of the dwarf planet.

Question 5

What landmark achievement did SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket pioneer in spaceflight?

Accepted Answer

Reusable first-stage boosters

Answer

SpaceX pioneered reusable first-stage rocket boosters with Falcon 9, drastically reducing the cost of reaching orbit.

Astronomy Practice Test