Why is the Closest Planet Also the Most Difficult to Visit?

The video discusses the challenges of visiting Mercury, the closest planet to Earth, and the MESSENGER mission, which was the first to orbit Mercury. It explains the difficulties due to Mercury's proximity to the Sun and the innovative route developed by Chen Wan Yen to overcome these challenges. The MESSENGER mission, launched by NASA, successfully orbited Mercury, providing valuable scientific data and images, despite initial setbacks and the harsh conditions of the planet.

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

• Venus

• Mercury

• Mars

• Jupiter

What was the main reason Mercury was difficult to visit?

• Its small size

• Its distance from Earth

• Its lack of atmosphere

• Its proximity to the Sun

What innovative approach did Chen Wan Yen propose for the MESSENGER mission?

• A larger spacecraft design

• Using a new type of fuel

• A series of planetary flybys

• A direct route to Mercury

How did MESSENGER manage to reduce its speed during its journey?

• By deploying parachutes

• By increasing its mass

• By using extra fuel

• By using solar radiation pressure

What was a significant achievement of MESSENGER during its mission?

• Discovering water on Mercury

• Landing on Mercury

• Taking over 200,000 photographs

• Mapping 100% of Mercury's surface

How long did MESSENGER orbit Mercury before its mission ended?

• Ten years

• Two years

• One year

• Four years

What was the final fate of the MESSENGER spacecraft?

• It continued to orbit the Sun

• It crashed into Mercury

• It was captured by Venus

• It returned to Earth