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Quiz about Thinking of Becoming an Astronaut
Quiz about Thinking of Becoming an Astronaut

Thinking of Becoming an Astronaut? Quiz

Have you been dreaming of flying in space your whole life? Forget about paying 20 million US dollars to be a Space Tourist. Here are a few ways you can get started on becoming an astronaut.

A multiple-choice quiz by mcdubb. Estimated time: 5 mins.
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Author
mcdubb
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
289,866
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
743
Awards
Top 35% Quiz
Last 3 plays: sadwings (5/10), Guest 156 (5/10), Guest 213 (5/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. Not every astronaut has a PhD or is a member of MENSA. The minimum education requirement to be eligible as an astronaut candidate is a Bachelor's degree. Which of the following degrees would NOT be considered a good choice for an astronaut candidate? Hint


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Question 2 of 10
2. Unless you hold a PhD, professional experience after college is required to be selected as an astronaut candidate. If you hold a Master's degree, two years are required, and three years for person with a Bachelor's Degree. Not every astronaut is a test pilot or engineer. Which of the following would be accepted as appropriate professional experience? Hint


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Question 3 of 10
3. Military service is not necessary to become an astronaut but it may be helpful. About two thirds of the United States Astronaut Corps from the Mercury Program through the Space Shuttle Program have had military backgrounds. Of the men who flew in the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and Skylab Programs, which branch of the military was most represented? Hint


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Question 4 of 10
4. When a candidate applies for the Astronaut Corps, they can apply either as a Pilot, or a Mission Specialist. Pilots fly the spacecraft and are eligible to become a Commander, while Mission Specialists perform spacewalks, scientific experiments, and operate the robotic arms of either the International Space Station, or Space Shuttle. For Pilot candidates, the minimum pilot time experience is 1,000 hours in a jet aircraft. Flying which of the following would NOT count towards this experience? Hint


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Question 5 of 10
5. An astronaut candidate for the International Space Station or Crew Exploration Vehicle program must be between 62 and 75 inches (157-190cm) tall. Which of the following NBA players would be eligible based solely on this requirement? Hint


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Question 6 of 10
6. Good vision is a must for any astronaut. What is NASA's vision requirement for an astronaut candidate? Hint


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Question 7 of 10
7. An Astronaut has to be able to remain calm in tough situations which require quick thinking. It would be a disaster if an astronaut had a heart attack during launch. Therefore, an astronaut candidate's blood pressure must remain under 140/90 in a sitting position to pass the physical. Which astronaut is famous for being so strangely calm that he actually fell asleep on the launch pad waiting to launch? Hint


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Question 8 of 10
8. In case of a water landing, any astronaut must be able to survive in the water. Which of the following is NOT a requirement for an astronaut to pass their physical? Hint


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Question 9 of 10
9. Once a person gets selected as an Astronaut Candidate, or ASCAN, how long is the training program they must pass before they are eligible to get inducted into the Astronaut Corps? Hint


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Question 10 of 10
10. To be eligible for NASA's Astronaut Corp, you must be a United States citizen. However, there are several International Astronauts which train and fly along side the Americans, sponsored by their home countries. Who was the first non-American to fly on the Space Shuttle? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Apr 10 2024 : sadwings: 5/10
Mar 17 2024 : Guest 156: 5/10
Mar 06 2024 : Guest 213: 5/10
Feb 29 2024 : 1995Tarpon: 10/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Not every astronaut has a PhD or is a member of MENSA. The minimum education requirement to be eligible as an astronaut candidate is a Bachelor's degree. Which of the following degrees would NOT be considered a good choice for an astronaut candidate?

Answer: Bachelor of Art in Photography

 Considering how many photos astronauts take during the course of a spaceflight, a Photography Degree might come in handy!

Disregarding Honorary Doctorates bestowed, the highest education for all seven original Mercury astronauts was a Bachelor's Degree. The first astronaut with a Master's Degree to fly was Ed White, the United State's first space-walker, on Gemini 4. The first person to fly in space with a PhD was Buzz Aldrin, who earned a Doctorate of Astronautics at MIT.
2. Unless you hold a PhD, professional experience after college is required to be selected as an astronaut candidate. If you hold a Master's degree, two years are required, and three years for person with a Bachelor's Degree. Not every astronaut is a test pilot or engineer. Which of the following would be accepted as appropriate professional experience?

Answer: High School Teacher

 The Teacher in Space Program began in 1984 with Christa McAuliffe, who was tragically killed in the Challenger Disaster. In 2007, the Teacher in Space Program resumed as Barbara Morgan became the first Educator Astronaut aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour on STS-118.
3. Military service is not necessary to become an astronaut but it may be helpful. About two thirds of the United States Astronaut Corps from the Mercury Program through the Space Shuttle Program have had military backgrounds. Of the men who flew in the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and Skylab Programs, which branch of the military was most represented?

Answer: The United States Air Force

 Between the flyers of the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and Skylab Programs, 18 were from the Air Force, 16 from the Navy, 6 from the Marine Corp, and 3 were had no military experience.

From the first astronauts selected through the 2004 Astronaut Class, the final class chosen to fly the Space Shuttle, there have been 114 civilians, 83 astronauts on active duty from the Navy, 80 from the Air Force, 23 from the Marine Corp, 18 from the Army, and 2 from the Coast Guard.
4. When a candidate applies for the Astronaut Corps, they can apply either as a Pilot, or a Mission Specialist. Pilots fly the spacecraft and are eligible to become a Commander, while Mission Specialists perform spacewalks, scientific experiments, and operate the robotic arms of either the International Space Station, or Space Shuttle. For Pilot candidates, the minimum pilot time experience is 1,000 hours in a jet aircraft. Flying which of the following would NOT count towards this experience?

Answer: Cessna 404

 The Cessna 404 is not a jet aircraft, it is powered by twin turboprop engines.
5. An astronaut candidate for the International Space Station or Crew Exploration Vehicle program must be between 62 and 75 inches (157-190cm) tall. Which of the following NBA players would be eligible based solely on this requirement?

Answer: Muggsy Bogues

 At 5'3" (160 cm), Muggsy Bogues would barely fit the minimum height requirement for astronaut selection. Mutombo is 7'2" (218 cm), Ming is 7'6" (229 cm), and Olajuwan is 7'0" (213 cm). While Ming, Mutombo, and Olajuwan have all played for the Houston Rockets, none has actually ridden a rocket into space.
6. Good vision is a must for any astronaut. What is NASA's vision requirement for an astronaut candidate?

Answer: 20/20 corrected, each eye

 NASA will accept those who have had LASIK corrective surgery, provided it has been at least a year since the operation.
7. An Astronaut has to be able to remain calm in tough situations which require quick thinking. It would be a disaster if an astronaut had a heart attack during launch. Therefore, an astronaut candidate's blood pressure must remain under 140/90 in a sitting position to pass the physical. Which astronaut is famous for being so strangely calm that he actually fell asleep on the launch pad waiting to launch?

Answer: Gordon Cooper

 Gordon "Gordo" Cooper flew on Mercury 9, the last and longest Mercury flight, as well as Gemini 5. He was the last astronaut to fly solo. During his Mercury flight, his blood pressure dropped astonishingly down to 101/65.

http://ocw.mit.edu/NR/rdonlyres/F5156F16-78BE-4E44-B625-7E2F2483874A/0/quiz1.pdf
8. In case of a water landing, any astronaut must be able to survive in the water. Which of the following is NOT a requirement for an astronaut to pass their physical?

Answer: The ability to tread water with 150 lb strapped to their back

 SCUBA diving is required in order to practice performing EVAs, or spacewalks, in NASA's pool, the Neutral Boyancy Lab. The water simulates moving in weightlessness.

After Gus Grissom's Liberty Bell 7 capsule splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean in 1961, the explosive hatch accidentally blew open, causing the capsule to take on water. Grissom was left to tread water in his full flight gear before he could be rescued.
9. Once a person gets selected as an Astronaut Candidate, or ASCAN, how long is the training program they must pass before they are eligible to get inducted into the Astronaut Corps?

Answer: 2 years

 Selection as an ASCAN is not a guarantee of being selected into the Astronaut Corps, as training is intense. Once selected, it may take up to 10 years before an astronaut's first space flight.
10. To be eligible for NASA's Astronaut Corp, you must be a United States citizen. However, there are several International Astronauts which train and fly along side the Americans, sponsored by their home countries. Who was the first non-American to fly on the Space Shuttle?

Answer: West German Ulf Merbold

 West German Ulf Merbold flew on Space Shuttle Columbia in late 1983. Salman al-Saud flew on STS-51G in 1985, and Marc Garneau flew on STS-41G in 1984. Sigmund Jahn flew on the Soviet Soyuz. All four were the first space flyers from their respective countries.

Now that you know what it takes to be an astronaut, go ahead and apply!
http://www.nasajobs.nasa.gov/astronauts/content/broch00.htm
Source: Author mcdubb

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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Referenced Topics
History   Specialized History   Man in Space   Trains   Disasters   German History   Aircraft   Air Forces   German Language   Photography   Space Shuttle   Teachers   Photography   Scuba Diving   White   Germans: Famous & Historical   Mercury   Houston   Space Stations  

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