Exploring Space
Practice Test
1.
Which missions to Mars ended in failure?
a.
Mars Climate Orbiter
and
Pathfinder
b.
Mars Global Surveyor
and
Polar Lander
c.
Sojourner
and
Pathfinder
d.
Mars Climate Orbiter
and
Polar Lander
Hint
2.
When is the new space station expected to be operational?
a.
It's operational now.
b.
2000
c.
2020
d.
2005
Hint
3.
Why are rockets ideal for exploring space?
a.
They are inexpensive.
b.
They can gather lots data.
c.
They are retrievable.
d.
They don't need air.
Hint
4.
What is the name of the cooperative space station now being built?
a.
Skylab
b.
International Space Station
c.
Soyuz
d.
Mir
Hint
5.
What did NASA administrators particularly like about the space shuttle?
a.
It would be cheaper to make, so it would cost less.
b.
It would be more accurate, bring back more data, and it would be more cost effective.
c.
It would be reusable, so it would cost less.
d.
Many countries would chip in, so it would cost less.
Hint
6.
Space probes, unlike satellites, are able to __________.
a.
gather data
b.
go into orbit
c.
travel out of the solar system
d.
be retrieved
Hint
7.
Why are radio telescopes considered to be dependable telescopes?
a.
because they use radios to help various telescope's computers communicate with each other
b.
because they never run out of energy
c.
because they use radio waves, which pass freely through Earth's atmosphere in any weather condition
d.
because they use radio waves, which do not pass freely through Earth's atmosphere due to unpredictable weather
Hint
8.
What was the initial problem with the
Hubble Space Telescope
?
a.
It is a reflecting telescope, and there was a problem with the lens.
b.
It is a refracting telescope, and there was a problem with the mirror.
c.
It is a reflecting telescope, and there was a problem with the mirror.
d.
It is a refracting telescope, and there was problem with the lens.
Hint
9.
What additional question are scientists exploring about the Moon?
a.
Is the Moon habitable?
b.
Does the Moon have an atmosphere?
c.
Does water exist in the craters of the Moon's poles?
d.
Can we harvest soil from the Moon?
Hint
10.
The use of adaptive optics integrates a dependence on __________.
a.
lasers
b.
lenses
c.
mirrors
d.
computers
Hint
11.
What form of energy is light that is emitted from stars?
a.
thermal
b.
conduction
c.
convection
d.
radiation
Hint
12.
A satellite traveling around an object in a curved path is said to be __________.
a.
in orbit
b.
falling
c.
circling
d.
lost
Hint
13.
What does it mean to talk about the frequency of electromagnetic radiation?
a.
the number of times a wave moves per unit of sound
b.
the distance a line travels in a certain amount of time
c.
the number of times a wave vibrates per unit of time
d.
the distance waves travel in a certain amount of time
Hint
14.
A modern application for a satellite is for __________.
a.
all answers are correct
b.
gathering pictures of Earth's surface
c.
transmitting radio and television signals
d.
gathering scientific data
Hint
15.
What is the purpose of the New Millennium Program?
a.
to create satellites to spy on other nations
b.
to develop technology that will create more jobs on Earth
c.
to create technology faster than other nations
d.
to develop advanced technology that will let NASA send smart spacecraft into the solar system
Hint
16.
Which U.S. project was the first to land a human on the Moon?
a.
Project Mercury
b.
Project Apollo
c.
Project Gemini
d.
Project Surveyor
Hint
17.
Which planet did
Galileo
explore before it was crushed by its atmosphere?
a.
Mars
b.
Uranus
c.
Jupiter
d.
Saturn
Hint
18.
The destination of the space probe
Cassini
is __________.
a.
Uranus
b.
Pluto
c.
Saturn
d.
Jupiter
Hint
19.
What limits spacecrafts from exploring space further?
a.
fuel
b.
sunlight
c.
the fact that we don't know what's out there
d.
air
Hint
20.
The uses of active optics integrates a dependence on __________.
a.
weather conditions
b.
mirrors
c.
computers
d.
lenses
Hint
