Exploring Mercury: The MESSENGER Mission

Which planet was the first to be visited by a spacecraft?

• Mars

• Venus

• Mercury

• Jupiter

Why did Mercury not receive much attention for 30 years?

• It was too far away

• It was too small

• It was considered uninteresting

• It was too challenging to visit

What was the main challenge in sending a probe to Mercury?

• Lack of interest

• Lack of technology

• High cost

• Proximity to the Sun

Who proposed the orbital route that made the MESSENGER mission possible?

• NASA

• ESA

• Alex McColgan

• Chen-Wan Yen

How many times did the MESSENGER probe orbit the Sun before entering Mercury's orbit?

• 10 times

• 12 times

• 20 times

• 15 times

How long did MESSENGER's journey to Mercury take?

• 3 years

• 4 years

• 5 years

• 6 and a half years

What technique did MESSENGER use to reduce its acceleration towards the Sun?

• Using solar panels to catch solar radiation

• Using a powerful thruster

• Using Earth's gravity

• Using Venus' gravity

What was the weight of the MESSENGER probe?

• 500 kg

• 1,100 kg

• 2,000 kg

• 3,000 kg

What did MESSENGER use to protect itself from the Sun's heat?

• A plastic cover

• A ceramic heat shield

• A glass shield

• A metal shield

During which flyby did MESSENGER go into safe mode?

• First flyby

• Second flyby

• Third flyby

• Fourth flyby