Asteroid Impact and Deflection Missions Quiz

What is the primary reason agencies are interested in bringing back asteroid samples?

• To use them as fuel for spacecraft

• To sell them as souvenirs

• To build structures on Earth

• To study them as time capsules from the universe

What is the main goal of the DART mission?

• To capture an asteroid with a net

• To paint an asteroid to change its thermal radiation

• To hit an asteroid with a spacecraft at high velocity

• To attach engines to an asteroid

What lesson did NASA and ESA learn from the 2005 Deep Impact mission?

• To wait several years before assessing impact results

• To use more powerful cameras

• To use larger spacecraft for impact missions

• To avoid using copper impactors

Why is the Didymos system an ideal target for the DART mission?

• It is the largest asteroid in the solar system

• It is made entirely of metal

• It is a binary system, allowing easier deflection measurement

• It is the closest asteroid to Earth

What is the size of Dimorphos compared to a well-known structure?

• The Great Pyramid of Giza

• The Eiffel Tower

• The Statue of Liberty

• The Empire State Building

What technology will Hera use to study the internal structure of Dimorphos?

• Thermal infrared imaging

• Ground penetrating radar

• High-frequency sonar

• Magnetic resonance imaging

What is the significance of using CubeSats in the Hera mission?

• They will be used to capture images of Earth

• They will be the first mini satellites to be used in deep space by ESA

• They will be used to transport samples back to Earth

• They will serve as communication relays

When is the Hera mission expected to launch?

• October 2022

• July 2027

• October 2024

• July 2021

What is the expected end date for the Hera mission?

• July 2021

• July 2027

• October 2022

• October 2024

Why is it important to gather data on asteroids now?

• To find new planets

• To create new space travel routes

• To prepare for potential future asteroid impacts

• To sell the data to private companies