20100421

Astronomy current events question: Hayabusa mission near completion

Astronomy 210L, Spring Semester 2010
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Students are assigned to read online articles on current astronomy events, and take a short current events quiz during the first 10 minutes of lab. (This motivates students to show up promptly to lab, as the time cut-off for the quiz is strictly enforced!)
Kelly Beatty, "Hayabusa Hits the Homestretch," March 30, 2010
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/news/89510417.html
After many setbacks, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Hayabusa spacecraft is planned to complete its mission, which is:
(A) landing on and burrowing into the core of a comet.
(B) bringing to Earth samples scraped off an asteroid.
(C) delivering a rover onto the surface of Mars' moon, Phobos.
(D) unfolding and using solar sails to travel to Jupiter's moon, Europa.
(E) proving ion engines can be used for interplanetary travel.

Correct answer: (B)

Student responses
Sections 30678, 30679, 30680
(A) : 1 student
(B) : 51 student
(C) : 5 students
(D) : 1 student
(E) : 2 students

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