This Amazing Mission Almost Failed After Launch

The Hipparcos mission, launched by the European Space Agency in the 1980s, faced initial setbacks due to a failed booster, resulting in an elliptical orbit. Despite this, the mission exceeded expectations, lasting longer and providing data on over 2.5 million stars. It resolved the age discrepancy of the universe and accurately predicted comet impacts on Jupiter. Hipparcos laid the groundwork for future astronomical research, demonstrating the power of human curiosity and resilience in space exploration.

What was the primary goal of the Hipparcos mission?

• To create the first star map

• To map the surface of Mars

• To make the most complete star map

• To study the Earth's atmosphere

What issue did the Hipparcos satellite face after its launch?

• It ran out of fuel immediately

• It lost communication with Earth

• It was caught in a highly elliptical orbit

• It failed to deploy its solar panels

How did the engineering team address the satellite's orbit problem?

• By replacing the solar panels

• By launching a new satellite

• By shutting down the mission

• By using leftover fuel to adjust the orbit

What significant problem regarding the universe did Hipparcos help solve?

• The formation of galaxies

• The age of the universe

• The existence of black holes

• The speed of light

How did Hipparcos contribute to predicting the Shoemaker Levy 9 impacts on Jupiter?

• By analyzing Jupiter's magnetic field

• By sending a probe to Jupiter

• By providing data on Jupiter's atmosphere

• By tracking the comets' positions using star data

What did the Hipparcos mission teach us about our galaxy?

• The temperature of the sun

• The tilt of our galaxy

• The number of planets in our solar system

• The existence of alien life

What is the broader significance of the Hipparcos mission?

• It ended in failure

• It was the first mission to Mars

• It laid the foundation for future astronomy research

• It discovered a new planet