Q 01/05

From which language do the roots of the word 'astronaut' ('star sailor') come?

A) Old Norse

B) Ancient Greek

C) Vedic Sanskrit

D) Classical Latin

Answer · why

B) Ancient Greek

Cosmonaut borrows the Greek kosmos via Russian; China's taikonaut comes from Mandarin tàikōng.

Q 02/05

What informal term is used for space travellers from China's program?

A) Taikonaut

B) Hangnaut

C) Sinonaut

D) Tiannaut

Answer · why

A) Taikonaut

Chinese media formally call them hángtiānyuán, 'heaven-sailing staff'.

Q 03/05

At what altitude does the FAI's Kármán line, the boundary of space, sit?

A) 50 km

B) 30 km

C) 80 km

D) 100 km

Answer · why

D) 100 km

The United States awards astronaut wings from 80 km, so the two counts differ.

Q 04/05

By early 2026, roughly how many people had flown to space under the 100 km definition?

A) About 780

B) About 500

C) About 1,500

D) About 250

Answer · why

A) About 780

They came from 55 countries, and over 290 had visited the International Space Station by then.

Q 05/05

Which X-15 pilot became the first person to reach space twice?

A) Scott Crossfield

B) Chuck Yeager

C) Joseph A. Walker

D) Neil Armstrong

Answer · why

C) Joseph A. Walker

He was the only X-15 pilot to top 100 km, doing it on two flights.