Could we colonize the moon? Take the quiz!


Space colonization has captured the human imagination for thousands of years. We've been there before, and now the question looms not IF the moon will be colonized, but when. Take our quiz and see what you know about this new frontier!

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Question 1 of 20

The company Virgin has conducted its first test flight for a commercial spacecraft. What is the name of the spacecraft?

Virgin Galactic
Galactic Traveler

... Virgin, the company leading the way in space travel, has begun testing its prototype space plane, Virgin Galactic.


Question 2 of 20

The United States government is looking toward this to help fund its space program.

space tourism
warp technology
special interest lobbies

... Space tourism isn't so distant a dream. It may not be long before people are paying millions to visit space!


Question 3 of 20

Scientists are hoping that advances in nanotechnology will enable them to build a spacecraft that can do this.

have a warp drive
repair itself while in space

... Why go all the way back to Earth? Scientists are hoping nanotechnologies will enable them to create a "self-healing" ship.


Question 4 of 20

In 1835, journalist John Herschel wrote a series of six articles claiming the discovery of life on the moon. His articles became known as...

The Great Moon Hoax
The Waning Moon

... Not long after his articles were proven to be made up, people began referring to them as the Great Moon Hoax.


Question 5 of 20

It's likely this will be built in the next 10 years, if not sooner, on the surface on the moon.

a moon colony
a moon outpost
a hotel

... A moon outpost will most likely be the first permanent structure on the moon, and it will likely be built by 2020.


Question 6 of 20

What is the distance between the Earth and the moon?

1 million miles (1.6 million kilometers)
327,456 miles (526,989 kilometers)
238,855 miles (384,399 kilometers)

... The distance between the Earth and the moon is 238,855 miles (384,399 kilometers).


Question 7 of 20

On the dark side of the moon, temperatures can drop as low as...

-397 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Kelvin)
-600 degrees Fahrenheit (-78 degrees Kelvin)
-100 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Kelvin)

... The temperature on the dark side of the moon can drop as low as -397 Fahrenheit (35 degrees Kelvin).


Question 8 of 20

When is the moon NOT being bombarded by flying chunks of ice and rock?

when it's summer in North America
The moon is constantly bombarded by debris like ice and rock.
when it's winter in North America

... The moon is constantly being bombarded at all times of the year, which results in its cratered surface.


Question 9 of 20

Some scientists believe that the most realistic place to build a moon colony would be inside these.

lava tubes
shallow craters

... Some scientists believe that lava tubes, formed by cooled and hardened lava flows, would be the most realistic spot for a moon colony.


Question 10 of 20

What is the name of the renowned physicist who claimed that space colonization is the only way to preserve the human species?

Marie Curie
Stephen Hawking
Robert Oppenheimer

... Stephen Hawking has said on numerous occasions that the key to the survival of the human species is space colonization.


Question 11 of 20

What's the name of the space station that President Ronald Reagan proposed building in 1984?

The International Cooperative Space Station
The World Space Station
The International Space Station

... Ronald Reagan proposed the International Space Station, which is now in danger of being scrapped after 2020.


Question 12 of 20

The United Nations formed this committee with the hopes of guiding peaceful travels and colonization in outer space.

The Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space
The U.N. Council on Space Colonization
The International Committee on Space Colonization

... The U.N. formed the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, which outlined guidelines for the colonization of space.


Question 13 of 20

What's the name of the sci-fi book Robert Heinlein wrote about a moon colony gone awry?

"The Man Who Sold the Moon"
"The Moon is a Harsh Mistress"
"Stranger in a Strange Land"

... Heinlein's book, "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress," is one of the most famous sci-fi books about a moon colony in revolt.


Question 14 of 20

The U.N.'s Outer Space Treaty has been ratified by how many countries?

380 countries
652 countries
975 countries

... Currently, 975 countries have ratified the Outer Space Treaty, which declares the moon and other celestial bodies to be the "province of mankind."


Question 15 of 20

For years, NASA has been working on growing plants using what method?

gravitational pulls
tower farms

... NASA has been working with hydroponics for years as a way to grow fresh food in space.


Question 16 of 20

Scientists have recently discovered this on the surface of the moon, and it may one day provide something essential for human survival.

water ice
oxygen pockets

... Scientists recently discovered 1 billion gallons of water ice in a single crater on the moon, good news for those interested in colonization.


Question 17 of 20

How many days will astronauts be able to stay in NASA's Lunar Electric Rover?

up to 120 days
up to 180 days
up to 50 days

... Astronauts will be able to live and work in the Lunar Electric Rover for up to 180 days, giving them a good amount of time for research.


Question 18 of 20

What is the lag time in communication between the Earth and the moon?

10 seconds
1 minute
3 seconds

... It turns out that it's not very long. The lag time in communication between the Earth and the moon is only 3 seconds.


Question 19 of 20

Some architecture to be built on the surface of the moon is being designed to reduce this type of pollution.

commercial moon rover pollution
footprint pollution
crater pollution

... To prevent footprint pollution, structures are being designed that would allow tourists to walk only in certain zones.


Question 20 of 20

The only way to eat this in space is in liquid form.


... No salt and pepper shakers in space! These seasonings come only in liquid form.


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