midterm Flashcards
(81 cards)
What year was the first satellite launched by the Soviet Union?
1957
The satellite was named Sputnik.
Who was the first human in Earth orbit?
Yuri Gagarin in 1961
This event marked a significant achievement in the space race.
What program did President Kennedy push for in response to the Soviet space achievements?
Apollo Program
This program aimed to land humans on the moon.
What were the Luna Missions?
24 early lunar missions, including robotic rovers and sample return missions (1959-1976)
These missions were significant for lunar exploration.
What was the purpose of the Zond Missions?
Precursor to human missions with round trips to the moon using animals (1965-1970)
These missions tested life-support systems.
What was the goal of the Apollo Program?
To land humans on the moon and bring them back safely to Earth
Six successful missions achieved this goal.
Which Apollo mission was the first to land humans on the moon?
Apollo 11 on July 20, 1969
Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were the first to walk on the lunar surface.
What is regolith?
Lunar soil
It is a key component for understanding the moon’s surface.
How many Saturn V launches were there?
Thirteen
Each launch cost approximately $4-5 billion in 2024 dollars.
What scientific accomplishments resulted from the Apollo missions?
Returned 390 kg of lunar samples and conducted various experiments
Included studies on soil mechanics, meteoroids, and lunar magnetic fields.
What was the significance of the Mars Pathfinder mission?
First mission to deploy a rover on the surface of Mars (1996)
It marked a new era in Mars exploration.
Which spacecraft was the first to land on Venus?
Venera 7 in 1970
This mission returned data for 35 minutes before weakening.
What did the Viking missions accomplish?
Provided high-resolution images and searched for evidence of life on Mars (1976)
Results were disappointing and ambiguous.
What is the purpose of the Mars Curiosity Rover?
Conduct remote sensing, sample acquisition, and analysis
Launched in 2011, it is powered by plutonium.
What is the Europa Clipper mission designed to do?
To orbit Jupiter’s moon Europa
It aims to explore potential habitability beneath Europa’s icy surface.
What is the Fermi Paradox?
The apparent contradiction between the high probability of extraterrestrial life and the lack of contact with such civilizations
It raises questions about the existence of life beyond Earth.
Fill in the blank: The Apollo program was designed to land humans on the moon and bring them back safely to _______.
Earth
True or False: The last crewed Apollo mission to the moon was Apollo 17.
True
What were the two main hypotheses regarding the formation of our solar system?
- Dualistic hypothesis
- Nebular hypothesis
These theories explain the origins of the solar system’s structure.
What is the primary element that makes up the Sun?
Hydrogen (70%)
Helium is the byproduct of nuclear fusion in the Sun.
What was the goal of the Mars Sample Return mission?
To return samples from Mars to Earth
High risk and high reward due to the complexities involved.
What was significant about the Pioneer 10 and 11 missions?
First missions to Jupiter, Saturn, and beyond (1972-73)
They marked the beginning of outer solar system exploration.
What did the Viking mission accomplish in 1976?
First superb mission to Mars with two orbiters and landers that successfully orbited and landed on Mars, sending back great images.
What was the Voyager project?
A mission to explore the outer solar system, consisting of two spacecraft launched in 1977.
