May 04, 2025

NASA History

Embark on a journey through the annals of space exploration with this ten-question quiz, designed to test your knowledge of NASA's groundbreaking achievements and pivotal moments. From the dawn of the space age to humanity's giant leaps and ambitious future endeavors, see how well you know the history of this iconic agency that has consistently pushed the boundaries of what's possible.

1. What year was NASA officially established?
(a) 1957
(b) 1958
(c) 1969
(d) 1961

2. Which of the following was the first U.S. human spaceflight program?
(a) Apollo
(b) Gemini
(c) Mercury
(d) Skylab

3. Who was the first American to orbit the Earth?
(a) Alan Shepard
(b) John Glenn
(c) Neil Armstrong
(d) Gus Grissom

4. The Apollo 11 mission is famous for what achievement?
(a) The first American spacewalk
(b) The first docking of two spacecraft in orbit
(c) The first humans landing on the Moon
(d) The first reusable spacecraft

5. What was the purpose of the Skylab program?
(a) To land humans on Mars
(b) To establish a permanent human presence on the Moon
(c) To operate a crewed orbital workshop
(d) To launch communication satellites

6. The Space Shuttle program's first orbital flight was in what year?
(a) 1975
(b) 1981
(c) 1986
(d) 1990

7. Which of NASA's robotic spacecraft was the first to land on Mars?
(a) Viking 1
(b) Voyager 1
(c) Curiosity
(d) Opportunity

8. What is the name of the large international collaborative project involving multiple space agencies that NASA participates in, orbiting Earth for long-term research?
(a) Hubble Space Telescope
(b) International Space Station
(c) James Webb Space Telescope
(d) Mir Space Station

9. The Hubble Space Telescope, launched in 1990, is primarily designed to observe what?
(a) Earth's weather patterns
(b) Radio waves from distant galaxies
(c) Visible and ultraviolet light from space
(d) The surface of the Moon in high resolution

10. What is the name of NASA's current program aimed at returning humans to the Moon?
(a) Orion
(b) Artemis
(c) Constellation
(d) New Horizons

ANSWER KEY:
Here is the answer key for the NASA history quiz:

1. **(b) 1958**
2. **(c) Mercury**
3. **(b) John Glenn**
4. **(c) The first humans landing on the Moon**
5. **(c) To operate a crewed orbital workshop**
6. **(b) 1981**
7. **(a) Viking 1**
8. **(b) International Space Station**
9. **(c) Visible and ultraviolet light from space**
10. **(b) Artemis**