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Asteroid Exploration: Missions to the Rocky Wanderers

Description: Asteroid Exploration: Missions to the Rocky Wanderers
Number of Questions: 15
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Tags: asteroids space missions solar system exploration
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Which spacecraft was the first to successfully rendezvous with an asteroid?

  1. NEAR Shoemaker

  2. Hayabusa

  3. Dawn

  4. OSIRIS-REx


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

NEAR Shoemaker was the first spacecraft to successfully rendezvous with an asteroid, Eros, in 1998.

What was the primary mission objective of the Hayabusa spacecraft?

  1. To return a sample of asteroid material to Earth

  2. To study the surface composition of an asteroid

  3. To measure the mass and density of an asteroid

  4. To map the topography of an asteroid


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The primary mission objective of the Hayabusa spacecraft was to return a sample of asteroid material to Earth, which it successfully did in 2010.

Which spacecraft was the first to orbit two asteroids?

  1. NEAR Shoemaker

  2. Hayabusa

  3. Dawn

  4. OSIRIS-REx


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Dawn was the first spacecraft to orbit two asteroids, Vesta and Ceres, in 2011 and 2015, respectively.

What is the name of the asteroid that OSIRIS-REx is currently studying?

  1. Bennu

  2. Ryugu

  3. Itokawa

  4. Eros


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

OSIRIS-REx is currently studying the asteroid Bennu, which it arrived at in 2018.

What type of asteroid is Eros?

  1. S-type

  2. C-type

  3. M-type

  4. V-type


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Eros is an S-type asteroid, which means it is composed primarily of silicate minerals.

Which asteroid is the largest in the asteroid belt?

  1. Ceres

  2. Vesta

  3. Pallas

  4. Hygiea


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Ceres is the largest asteroid in the asteroid belt, with a diameter of approximately 950 kilometers.

What is the average distance between the Earth and the asteroid belt?

  1. 2.5 AU

  2. 3.5 AU

  3. 4.5 AU

  4. 5.5 AU


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The average distance between the Earth and the asteroid belt is approximately 2.5 AU (Astronomical Units).

Which asteroid is known for its two prominent moons?

  1. Ida

  2. Gaspra

  3. Phobos

  4. Deimos


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Ida is known for its two prominent moons, Dactyl and S/2003 (243) 1.

What is the name of the spacecraft that discovered the first asteroid?

  1. Galileo

  2. Voyager 1

  3. Pioneer 10

  4. Ceres


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Ceres was the first asteroid to be discovered, in 1801 by Giuseppe Piazzi.

Which asteroid is the target of the JAXA Hayabusa2 mission?

  1. Ryugu

  2. Bennu

  3. Itokawa

  4. Eros


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The JAXA Hayabusa2 mission is targeting the asteroid Ryugu.

What is the name of the spacecraft that is scheduled to return a sample of asteroid Bennu to Earth in 2023?

  1. NEAR Shoemaker

  2. Hayabusa

  3. Dawn

  4. OSIRIS-REx


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

OSIRIS-REx is scheduled to return a sample of asteroid Bennu to Earth in 2023.

Which asteroid is known for its unusual shape?

  1. Eros

  2. Gaspra

  3. Ida

  4. Phobos


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Eros is known for its unusual shape, which is roughly potato-shaped.

What is the name of the asteroid that is the target of the NASA Psyche mission?

  1. Psyche

  2. Ceres

  3. Vesta

  4. Pallas


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The NASA Psyche mission is targeting the asteroid Psyche, which is believed to be the exposed core of a planet.

Which asteroid is known for its high concentration of precious metals?

  1. Psyche

  2. Ceres

  3. Vesta

  4. Pallas


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Psyche is known for its high concentration of precious metals, such as iron and nickel.

What is the name of the spacecraft that is scheduled to launch in 2022 to study the Trojan asteroids?

  1. Lucy

  2. Psyche

  3. OSIRIS-REx

  4. Dawn


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Lucy is scheduled to launch in 2022 to study the Trojan asteroids, which are a group of asteroids that share Jupiter's orbit around the Sun.

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