Astronomy current events question: Mars Exploration Rover Spirit incommunicado

Astronomy 210L, Fall 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!)

Guy Webster, "NASA's Hibernating Mars Rover May Not Call Home," July 30, 2010
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/mer/news/mer20100730.html

Why might the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit no longer be able to contact NASA mission controllers?
(A) A software problem.
(B) Not enough solar power.
(C) A massive dust storm.
(D) Covered with dry ice snow.
(E) A massive solar flare.

Correct answer: (B)

Student responses
Sections 70178, 70186, 70200
(A) : 7 students
(B) : 39 students
(C) : 13 students
(D) : 9 students
(E) : 5 students