Space Shuttles Quiz: Can You Get 8 Out of 10?

This space shuttles quiz covers NASA's Space Shuttle program, from the first launch of Columbia in 1981 to Atlantis's final flight in 2011, the Challenger and Columbia disasters and the Hubble missions. Can you get 8 out of 10?

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🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

First
Which shuttle made the first flight in 1981?
Reusable
What was new about the Space Shuttle?
Challenger
In which year did Challenger break apart after launch?
Teacher
Which teacher was aboard Challenger?
Columbia
What caused the loss of Columbia in 2003?
Hubble
Which shuttle launched the Hubble Space Telescope in 1990?
Last
Which shuttle flew the final mission in 2011?
Woman
Who was the first American woman in space, on a shuttle in 1983?
Count
How many shuttle missions flew from 1981 to 2011?
Museum
Where is Space Shuttle Endeavour displayed?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: Which shuttle made the first flight in 1981?
Answer: Columbia
Enterprise was a test vehicle that never flew in space.
Q2: What was new about the Space Shuttle?
Answer: It was largely reusable
The orbiter landed like a glider.
Q3: In which year did Challenger break apart after launch?
Answer: 1986
A faulty O-ring seal failed in cold weather.
Q4: Which teacher was aboard Challenger?
Answer: Christa McAuliffe
She was to teach lessons from space.
Q5: What caused the loss of Columbia in 2003?
Answer: Foam damage to its wing
It broke up during reentry.
Q6: Which shuttle launched the Hubble Space Telescope in 1990?
Answer: Discovery
Later shuttles repaired it five times.
Q7: Which shuttle flew the final mission in 2011?
Answer: Atlantis
It landed in July 2011.
Q8: Who was the first American woman in space, on a shuttle in 1983?
Answer: Sally Ride
She flew on Challenger.
Q9: How many shuttle missions flew from 1981 to 2011?
Answer: 135
They built much of the ISS.
Q10: Where is Space Shuttle Endeavour displayed?
Answer: Los Angeles
Discovery is at the Smithsonian near D.C.

Space Shuttles Quiz – The Space Shuttle Era

NASA's Space Shuttle was the first partly reusable spacecraft. It launched like a rocket, carried crews and cargo to orbit and landed like a glider. Five orbiters flew in space: Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour.

The shuttles launched satellites, deployed and repaired the Hubble Space Telescope and built much of the International Space Station. They carried many firsts, including the first American woman and first African American in space.

Two tragedies, Challenger in 1986 and Columbia in 2003, cost 14 lives and led to major safety reforms. The program ended in 2011 after 135 missions, and the orbiters now inspire visitors in museums.

What This Quiz Teaches

This quiz is for space fans exploring the Space Shuttle.

Which shuttle flew first
What made it new
What caused the disasters
Which shuttle launched Hubble
Which flew last

Did You Know?

Guion Bluford was the first African American in space in 1983.
The shuttle's main tank was orange.
Shuttles reached about 28,000 km/h.
The Soviet Buran flew once uncrewed.
John Glenn flew on Discovery at age 77.