History
History of Space Disasters & Near-Misses Quiz
From Challenger to Apollo 13 — test your knowledge of history's worst space disasters and closest near-misses.
From Challenger to Apollo 13 — test your knowledge of history's worst space disasters and closest near-misses.
Space exploration has always carried enormous risk. From the Apollo 1 fire that killed three astronauts before they even left the launch pad, to the Challenger and Columbia shuttle disasters that shocked the world, this quiz covers the tragedies, near-misses, and hard-won lessons that shaped the history of human spaceflight.
Each round presents 10 randomized questions from a pool of 50, with four multiple-choice options and instant feedback after every answer. Your final score comes with a performance tier and shareable results.
You'll explore major incidents from both the American and Soviet space programs, including the engineering failures behind the Challenger disaster, the improvised CO2 scrubber that saved Apollo 13, and the only deaths ever to occur in outer space aboard Soyuz 11. You'll also learn about lesser-known close calls and the safety reforms they inspired.
The Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart 73 seconds after launch on January 28, 1986, killing all seven crew members including teacher Christa McAuliffe. The disaster was caused by the failure of an O-ring seal in a solid rocket booster, worsened by unusually cold weather at launch.
Apollo 13 suffered an oxygen tank explosion on April 13, 1970, crippling the spacecraft en route to the Moon. The crew used the Lunar Module as a lifeboat and, with help from mission control, improvised a CO2 scrubber using duct tape and cardboard to survive the journey home safely.
Yes — the three cosmonauts aboard Soyuz 11 (Georgy Dobrovolsky, Vladislav Volkov, and Viktor Patsayev) are the only people to have died in outer space. A ventilation valve opened during re-entry preparation on June 30, 1971, causing rapid depressurization. All other spaceflight fatalities occurred during launch or re-entry within Earth's atmosphere.
Last updated: March 2026