Exploring 50 Years of Solar System Discoveries

What is one of the key factors that contributed to the success of planetary science missions?

• High budget allocations

• A small team of experts

• Advanced computer technology

• Diverse backgrounds and expertise

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NGSS.HS-ETS1-4

What was a significant discovery made by Mariner 2 about Venus?

• It has a tropical environment

• It has sulfuric acid clouds

• It is hospitable for life

• It has a strong magnetic field

What did Mariner 4 reveal about Mars?

• It has a tropical climate

• It is similar to Earth

• It has a moon-like surface with craters

• It has abundant vegetation

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

What was the first US probe to successfully land on Mars?

• Mariner 9

• Viking

• Pathfinder

• Curiosity

What was a major achievement of the Curiosity Rover?

• Discovering life on Mars

• Finding evidence of ancient rivers

• Mapping the entire surface of Mars

• Landing on Venus

What are comets and asteroids often referred to as?

• Solar system time capsules

• Space debris

• Mini planets

• Cosmic dust

What was the goal of the Stardust Mission?

• To explore Jupiter

• To return samples from a comet

• To land on Mars

• To map the asteroid belt

Which mission provided the first close-up images of the gas giants?

• Cassini

• Pioneer

• Galileo

• Voyager

What was a surprising discovery made by the Cassini mission on Enceladus?

• Geysers of ice and water

• Volcanoes

• A tropical climate

• Lakes of liquid water

What is the primary reason for continued exploration of the solar system?

• To understand Earth's climate

• To satisfy human curiosity

• To find new planets

• To colonize other planets