NASA's Genesis Project: Salvaging Science from a Crash Landing

The Genesis capsule, after a 2.5-year mission collecting solar wind particles, crashed in the Utah desert at 300 km/h. The impact damaged the inner canister holding fragile disks, but some wafers remained intact, allowing scientists to salvage part of the mission's data. NASA is investigating the parachute failure and is concerned about similar issues with future missions. The capsule's contents could provide insights into the sun's formation 4.5 billion years ago.

What was the speed of the Genesis capsule when it crashed into the Utah desert?

• 200 kilometers per hour

• 300 kilometers per hour

• 400 kilometers per hour

• 500 kilometers per hour

What was the primary concern of scientists regarding the collector wafers after the crash?

• They would be contaminated

• They would be lost in the desert

• They would shatter like glass

• They would melt due to heat

What is NASA investigating about the Genesis capsule?

• The trajectory of the capsule

• The materials used in the wafers

• The failure of the parachute system

• The design of the capsule

What potential insight could the Genesis capsule's contents provide?

• The formation of the sun

• The composition of the moon

• The age of the Earth

• The distance to the nearest star

What is a concern for future missions with a similar parachute system?

• Longer mission durations

• Similar crash landings

• Increased mission costs

• Higher fuel consumption