Astronomy current events question: Stardust-NExT decommissioning

Astronomy 210L, Spring Semester 2011
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!)

Jesus Diaz, "Why Is NASA Burning Out Its Comet Hunting Spaceship?," March 25, 2011
http://gizmodo.com/#!5785699/why-is-nasa-burning-out-its-comet-hunters-engines

NASA's Stardust-NexT spacecraft will fire its thrusters until empty, in order to:
(A) impact comet Temple 1.
(B) override an operating system error.
(C) fall into the sun.
(D) reach escape velocity.
(E) verify fuel consumption records.

Correct answer: (E)

Student responses
Sections 30678, 30679, 30680
(A) : 4 students
(B) : 4 students
(C) : 1 student
(D) : 9 students
(E) : 34 students