Astronomy current events question: NASA Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) spacecraft

Astronomy 210L, fall semester 2015
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!)

Karen C. Fox, "NASA's MMS Spacecraft Achieve Tightest Flying Formation Ever" (October 16, 2015)
nasa.gov/feature/goddard/nasas-mms-spacecraft-achieve-tightest-flying-formation-ever

NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) consist of four spacecraft that orbit in formation to study how Earth's magnetic field:
(A) connects and disconnects from the solar wind.
(B) gradually weakens over time.
(C) captures cosmic rays.
(D) interacts with gravity waves.
(E) will soon reverse its poles.

Correct answer: (A)

Student responses
Sections 70178, 70186
(A) : 12 students
(B) : 1 student
(C) : 4 students
(D) : 7 students
(E) : 2 students