Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite of the earth, was launched in 1957 by which country?
- A.United States
- B.Soviet Union
- C.United Kingdom
- D.France
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is B, Soviet Union. Sputnik 1 was launched on 4 October 1957 and became the first artificial satellite to circle the earth, sending out a simple radio signal that stations across the world could hear. The launch opened the space age and pushed the United States to create NASA the next year. Sputnik 2, launched a month later, carried the dog Laika, the first animal to orbit the earth.
Option A, the United States, launched its first satellite Explorer 1 in early 1958, a few months later. Option C, the United Kingdom, built early satellites such as Ariel 1 but they were launched by American rockets. Option D, France, became the third country to launch a satellite with its own rocket, in 1965, and later led the European effort. The first place belongs to the Soviet Union.
Read the full article: Space Agencies and Missions of the World: Exam Notes
Practice Questions
View allWhat is the expansion of NASA?
- A.National Agency of Space Administration
- B.Navigational Aeronautics and Space Administration
- C.National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- D.National Aeronautics and Space Agency
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NASA is the civilian space agency of the United States, established in 1958 after the launch of Sputnik, with its headquarters at Washington DC.
Read the full explanation →The Indian Space Research Organisation was formed in which year?
- A.1962
- B.1969
- C.1972
- D.1975
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ISRO was formed on 15 August 1969, taking over the space work that had been carried on since 1962 by the Indian National Committee for Space Research.
Read the full explanation →Who was the first human being to travel into space?
- A.Neil Armstrong
- B.Yuri Gagarin
- C.Alan Shepard
- D.Alexei Leonov
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The Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin circled the earth once aboard Vostok 1 on 12 April 1961 and became the first human being in space, a flight that lasted about one hour and forty eight minutes.
Read the full explanation →What was the name of the first Indian satellite, launched in 1975?
- A.Rohini
- B.Bhaskara
- C.Aryabhata
- D.INSAT-1A
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India's first satellite was named after the ancient astronomer and mathematician Aryabhata and was launched on 19 April 1975 from a Soviet site, since India did not yet have a launch vehicle of its own.
Read the full explanation →India's Mars Orbiter Mission, also called Mangalyaan, entered the orbit of Mars in which year?
- A.2008
- B.2013
- C.2014
- D.2019
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The Mars Orbiter Mission was launched on 5 November 2013 by a PSLV rocket and was placed in orbit around Mars on 24 September 2014.
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