NASA Is Giving Up on Their Mars Mole | SciShow News

The video discusses the nature of binary star systems, highlighting that many stars have companions. It details the discovery of extragalactic binaries using the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, focusing on systems in the Draco dwarf Galaxy and the Small Magellanic Cloud. The study of these systems helps understand star masses and orbits, and their role in Type 1A supernovae, which are crucial for measuring cosmic distances. The video also covers the challenges faced by NASA's Insight Lander on Mars, particularly with its Mole instrument, which struggled with unexpected soil conditions. Despite setbacks, the mission provides valuable insights into Martian geology.

What is a common characteristic of stars catalogued in our Galaxy?

• They are all white dwarfs.

• They are all red giants.

• They often have at least one partner.

• They are all solitary stars.

What makes it difficult to distinguish stars in distant binary systems?

• The stars are too far apart.

• The stars are too bright.

• The stars are too close to each other.

• The stars are too large.

What is the significance of Type 1A supernovas in astronomy?

• They help determine the age of galaxies.

• They are used to measure the temperature of stars.

• They indicate the presence of black holes.

• They serve as cosmic distance markers.

What was the primary goal of NASA's Insight Lander mission on Mars?

• To study Mars's atmosphere.

• To explore the surface of Mars.

• To understand Mars's interior and heat sources.

• To search for water on Mars.

What was the main issue faced by the Insight Lander's Mole instrument?

• The soil was too loose to provide friction.

• It was too short to reach the desired depth.

• The soil was too sticky and did not collapse.

• The instrument was not powerful enough.

What did the Insight team try to do to help the Mole dig deeper?

• They used a stronger hammer.

• They added more sensors.

• They replaced the Mole with a new instrument.

• They pressed the lander's arm against the Mole.

What is a positive outcome from the challenges faced by the Insight mission?

• It provided new insights into Mars's atmosphere.

• It confirmed the presence of water on Mars.

• It discovered new types of Martian rocks.

• It revealed the diversity of Mars's soil.