20141128

Astronomy current events question: Philae lander in hibernation

Astronomy 210L, fall semester 2014
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 press release, "Pioneering Philae Completes Main Mission before Hibernation," (November 15, 2014)
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Rosetta/Pioneering_Philae_completes_main_mission_before_hibernation
The European Space Agency lander Philae was put into hibernation on Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko due to:
(A) not enough sunlight on its solar panels.
(B) burying itself in a snowbank.
(C) an unsuccessful software reboot.
(D) problems with overheating.
(E) impending solar flares.

Correct answer: (A)

Student responses
Sections 70178, 70186
(A) : 28 students
(B) : 2 students
(C) : 4 students
(D) : 1 student
(E) : 4 students

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