Astronomy current events question: Mars Express Phobos flyby

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!)

European Space Agency news release, "Phobos' Flyby Season Starts Again," February 17, 2010
http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=9437

The European Space Agency Mars Express spacecraft will soon pass very near Phobos, the largest moon of Mars, in order to:
(A) look for remnants of the failed Russian Mars probe Phobos 2.
(B) slingshot itself over to Deimos, the smallest moon of Mars.
(C) look for ice hidden in shadowed craters on its polar caps.
(D) map Phobos' gravity field, and deduce its internal structure.
(E) detect the presence of organic molecules.

Correct answer: (D)

Student responses
Sections 30678, 30679, 30680
(A) : 0 students
(B) : 3 students
(C) : 2 students
(D) : 27 students
(E) : 1 student