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Shuttle Missions Plus Trivia Quiz

Shuttle missions and the people involved. Some of the answers may surprise you!

A multiple-choice quiz by bubbabotox. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
bubbabotox

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
384,121

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
130

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The Enterprise was the first space shuttle to fly, although it never reached orbit. Who was the commander on the first shuttle flight? Hint

Fred Haise

Joe Engle

Gordon Fullerton

Richard Truly

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Question 2 of 10

2. On June 27, 1982, the shuttle Columbia lifted off to begin mission STS-4. What was so significant about this mission? Hint

The first flight of Columbia.

The first flight with a female astronaut.

The first night launch.

The last flight with a two person crew.

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Question 3 of 10

3. The shuttle Columbia holds the record for the longest shuttle mission. How long was this mission? (Rounded to the nearest hour) Hint

16d 9h

15d 9h

17d 22h

17d 16h

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Question 4 of 10

4. On November 28, 1983, Columbia launched to begin the STS-9 mission. On board was the first foreign citizen to travel on a shuttle flight. Who was he? Hint

Ulf Merbold

Patrick Baudry

Marc Garneau

Claude Nicollier

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Question 5 of 10

5. How many women have flown on the shuttle? Hint

102

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Question 6 of 10

6. How many women have commanded a shuttle mission? Hint

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Question 7 of 10

7. In October 1998, at the age of 77, this Mercury astronaut launched on the space shuttle Discovery during the STS-95 mission. Hint

Scott Carpenter

Deke Slayton

John Glenn

Gordon Cooper

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Question 8 of 10

8. Franklin Chang-Diaz and Jerry Ross share the record for the most shuttle flights. How many times have they each hitched a ride? Hint

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Question 9 of 10

9. On May 7, 1992, the shuttle Endeavour made its maiden voyage. A number of other firsts were obtained on this mission. Which of the following was NOT one of them? Hint

First night landing at Kennedy Space Center.

First shuttle mission to feature four EVAs.

First EVA involving three astronauts.

First use of a drag chute during a shuttle landing.

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Question 10 of 10

10. Star Trek fans wrote thousands of letters to the White House asking President Ford to name the first shuttle as Enterprise. What was the original name going to be? Hint

Intrepid

Columbus

Constitution

Eagle

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The Enterprise was the first space shuttle to fly, although it never reached orbit. Who was the commander on the first shuttle flight?

Answer: Fred Haise

Haise had been in space before. He was supposed to walk on the moon as the lunar module pilot on the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission. He commanded three test flights of the shuttle Enterprise.

2. On June 27, 1982, the shuttle Columbia lifted off to begin mission STS-4. What was so significant about this mission?

Answer: The last flight with a two person crew.

The commander on this flight was Ken Mattingly, an Apollo 13 alumnus, albeit the one who missed the flight!

3. The shuttle Columbia holds the record for the longest shuttle mission. How long was this mission? (Rounded to the nearest hour)

Answer: 17d 16h

STS-80 was launched on November 19, 1996. It was scheduled to on land December 5, 1996 but the landing was pushed back two days because of bad weather. The mission lasted for 17 days, 15 hours and 53 minutes.

4. On November 28, 1983, Columbia launched to begin the STS-9 mission. On board was the first foreign citizen to travel on a shuttle flight. Who was he?

Answer: Ulf Merbold

Ulf Merbold is from Germany, Marc Garneau from Canada, Patrick Baudry from France and Claude Nicollier from Switzerland. Although all four have flown on the shuttle, Merbold was the first.

5. How many women have flown on the shuttle?

Answer: 49

A total of 833 crew members have flown on the shuttle, made up of 355 individuals from 16 countries. Sally Ride was the first woman to launch on STS-7, June 18, 1983.

6. How many women have commanded a shuttle mission?

Answer: 2

Eileen Collins, STS-93, July, 1999 on board Columbia and Pamela Melroy, STS-120, November, 2007 on board Discovery. Collins was also the first female pilot of a shuttle and Melroy was commanding the shuttle to a rendezvous with the International Space Station which, at the time, was also under the command of a female, Peggy Whitson.

7. In October 1998, at the age of 77, this Mercury astronaut launched on the space shuttle Discovery during the STS-95 mission.

Answer: John Glenn

America's first astronaut to orbit the earth. He was a US Senator at the time of his space shuttle launch and the oldest person in space.

8. Franklin Chang-Diaz and Jerry Ross share the record for the most shuttle flights. How many times have they each hitched a ride?

Answer: 7

Chang-Diaz has spent 66d 18h 16m in space while Ross has spent 58d 0h 52m. Neither has traveled with the other although they have come close on a few occasions: Jerry Ross launched on mission STS-61-B while Chang-Diaz was on STS-61-C, Ross launched on STS-74 while Chang-Diaz was on STS-75 and Ross launched on STS-110 while Chang-Diaz lifted off on STS-111.

9. On May 7, 1992, the shuttle Endeavour made its maiden voyage. A number of other firsts were obtained on this mission. Which of the following was NOT one of them?

Answer: First night landing at Kennedy Space Center.

The first night landing at the Shuttle Landing Facility at the KSC was when the shuttle Discovery touched down on September 22, 1993.

10. Star Trek fans wrote thousands of letters to the White House asking President Ford to name the first shuttle as Enterprise. What was the original name going to be?

Answer: Constitution

Many of the original Star Trek cast members were on hand in California to witness the dedication ceremony on September 17, 1976. Coincidentally, using the Star Trek terminology for classifying starships, the USS Enterprise, NCC-1701 is a Constitution Class starship.

Source: Author bubbabotox

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