Quiz: Spaced Out: Space Shuttle Quiz
Spaced Out: Space Shuttle Quiz
Image: refer to hsw
About This Quiz
At its best, the space shuttle is the embodiment of 20th-century scientific progress. At its worst, the shuttle is a symbol of the dangers that come with space travel. Take this quiz to see how much you know about the space shuttle program.
1.0 of 30
How fast does a shuttle need to travel to achieve orbit?
2.0 of 30
What is the top speed of a space shuttle as it orbits Earth?
3.0 of 30
At this speed, how often does the shuttle crew watch the sun rise or set?
4.0 of 30
How long does a typical space shuttle mission last?
5.0 of 30
What is the longest amount of time a shuttle has stayed in orbit during a mission?
6.0 of 30
True or false: The combined mileage of the five space shuttles equals the distance between Earth and Jupiter.
7.0 of 30
Which space shuttle accumulated the most career miles?
8.0 of 30
Who is the only president to have witnessed a space shuttle launch firsthand?
9.0 of 30
What percentage of the thrust necessary to lift a space shuttle do the solid rocket boosters (SRBs) provide?
10.0 of 30
The main engine's external fuel tank primarily contains …
11.0 of 30
Which of the following is NOT a reason the external fuel tank is covered with a special, inch-thick layer of foam insulation?
12.0 of 30
What part of the shuttle orbiter contains the main engines?
13.0 of 30
What is the shuttle's heat shield — it's thermal protection system — made from?
14.0 of 30
What does the "STS" prefix in front of NASA mission names indicate?
15.0 of 30
What U.S. president announced the development of the space shuttle?
16.0 of 30
Which of the following occurs at T plus 8.5 minutes of a typical shuttle launch?
17.0 of 30
What caused Challenger to break apart at the beginning of what would have been the shuttle's 10th flight?
18.0 of 30
Which of the following best describes the communication system between mission control and the shuttle orbiter?
19.0 of 30
Why does NASA place more than 100 cameras around the launch pad to film the shuttle during liftoff?
20.0 of 30
Who was the first astronaut to tweet from space?
21.0 of 30
True or false: The space shuttle external tank (ET) is left unpainted.
22.0 of 30
Which space shuttle component is NOT reusable?
23.0 of 30
What's the biggest crew that could fly in a space shuttle orbiter?
24.0 of 30
How many people have flown on shuttle missions?
25.0 of 30
The power from the three main engines is equivalent to the energy created by which energy source?
26.0 of 30
What damaged part failed to protect the Columbia and its seven-astronaut crew as the shuttle attempted to re-enter Earth's atmosphere on Feb. 1, 2003?
27.0 of 30
Which was the last song played during the final wake-up call for the last shuttle crew?
28.0 of 30
True or false: A Buzz Lightyear figure from "Toy Story" has been to the International Space Station.
29.0 of 30
How long did 12-inch Buzz spend in orbit?
30.0 of 30
After decades of shuttle missions, when did the space shuttle program officially end?
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