The 21st Century

Description: The 21st Century Quiz
Number of Questions: 15
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Tags: astronomy astronomy history the 21st century
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Which space agency launched the first spacecraft to orbit another planet in the 21st century?

  1. NASA

  2. ESA

  3. JAXA

  4. CNSA


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The European Space Agency (ESA) launched the Rosetta spacecraft in 2004, which successfully orbited comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko in 2014.

What was the name of the first private company to launch a spacecraft into orbit?

  1. SpaceX

  2. Blue Origin

  3. Virgin Galactic

  4. Rocket Lab


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

SpaceX became the first private company to launch a spacecraft into orbit in 2010 with the Falcon 9 rocket.

Which country became the third to successfully send humans into space in the 21st century?

  1. China

  2. India

  3. Japan

  4. Russia


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

China became the third country to successfully send humans into space in 2003 with the Shenzhou 5 mission.

What was the name of the first space telescope to be launched into orbit in the 21st century?

  1. Hubble Space Telescope

  2. James Webb Space Telescope

  3. Spitzer Space Telescope

  4. Chandra X-ray Observatory


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The Chandra X-ray Observatory was launched into orbit in 1999 and is the first space telescope dedicated to observing X-rays.

Which space agency launched the first spacecraft to land on an asteroid?

  1. NASA

  2. ESA

  3. JAXA

  4. CNSA


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

The Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) launched the Hayabusa spacecraft in 2003, which successfully landed on asteroid Itokawa in 2005.

What was the name of the first spacecraft to land on Mars in the 21st century?

  1. Opportunity

  2. Spirit

  3. Curiosity

  4. Perseverance


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The Opportunity rover landed on Mars in 2004 and operated for over 14 years, exploring the surface of the planet.

Which space agency launched the first spacecraft to orbit Mercury?

  1. NASA

  2. ESA

  3. JAXA

  4. CNSA


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

NASA launched the MESSENGER spacecraft in 2004, which successfully orbited Mercury in 2011.

What was the name of the first spacecraft to land on a comet?

  1. Rosetta

  2. Philae

  3. Hayabusa

  4. Dawn


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The Philae lander was part of the Rosetta mission and successfully landed on comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko in 2014.

Which space agency launched the first spacecraft to orbit Jupiter?

  1. NASA

  2. ESA

  3. JAXA

  4. CNSA


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

NASA launched the Galileo spacecraft in 1989, which successfully orbited Jupiter in 1995.

What was the name of the first spacecraft to land on Saturn's moon Titan?

  1. Cassini-Huygens

  2. Voyager 1

  3. Voyager 2

  4. Pioneer 11


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The Cassini-Huygens spacecraft was a joint mission between NASA and ESA, and the Huygens probe successfully landed on Titan in 2005.

Which space agency launched the first spacecraft to orbit Uranus?

  1. NASA

  2. ESA

  3. JAXA

  4. CNSA


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

NASA launched the Voyager 2 spacecraft in 1977, which successfully orbited Uranus in 1986.

What was the name of the first spacecraft to land on a comet's nucleus?

  1. Rosetta

  2. Philae

  3. Hayabusa

  4. Dawn


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The Philae lander was part of the Rosetta mission and successfully landed on comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko in 2014.

Which space agency launched the first spacecraft to orbit Neptune?

  1. NASA

  2. ESA

  3. JAXA

  4. CNSA


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

NASA launched the Voyager 2 spacecraft in 1977, which successfully orbited Neptune in 1989.

What was the name of the first spacecraft to land on Pluto?

  1. New Horizons

  2. Voyager 1

  3. Voyager 2

  4. Pioneer 11


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The New Horizons spacecraft was launched by NASA in 2006 and successfully flew by Pluto in 2015.

Which space agency launched the first spacecraft to orbit the Sun?

  1. NASA

  2. ESA

  3. JAXA

  4. CNSA


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

NASA launched the Parker Solar Probe in 2018, which successfully orbited the Sun in 2020.

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