Space Race Quiz

When did humans first send an object into orbit around the Earth?

• 1940s

• 1950s

• 1960s

Sputnik 1 was launched in October 1957. It transmitted a radio signal as it orbited the Earth.

Who made Sputnik 1?

• America

• Russia

What was the first living thing sent into orbit?

• Cat

• Bird

• Dog

Laika the dog was sent into orbit in November 1957. Unfortunately she didn’t return to Earth!

Who sent Laika into space?

• America

• Russia

Who was the first human sent into orbit around the Earth?

• John Glenn

• Yuri Gagarin

• Paul McCartney

Yuri Gagarin was the first man in orbit on 12th April 1961.

Who put him up there?

• America

• Russia

When did a space probe first take pictures of a planet other than Earth?

• 1964

• 1974

• 1984

Mariner 4 became the first probe to take pictures of Mars in 1964.

Who sent the probe?

• America

• Russia

When did the first astronaut walk in space?

• 1965

• 1966

• 1967

Alexey Leonov became the first astronaut to go on a ‘spacewalk’ in April 1965.

Who sent him there?

• America

• Russia