Asteroid Threats and Planetary Defense

What is the name of the asteroid that poses a potential threat to Earth?

• 101955 Bennu

• 99942 Apophis

• 433 Eros

• 243 Ida

How often does an asteroid the size of Apophis strike Earth according to historical data?

• Every 100,000 years

• Every 50,000 years

• Every 80,000 years

• Every 10,000 years

What qualifies an asteroid to be classified as a near-Earth asteroid (NEA)?

• It has a non-zero chance of impacting Earth

• It is part of the asteroid belt

• It comes within 1.3 astronomical units of Earth

• Its size is over 1,000 feet

What was the primary goal of NASA's DART mission?

• To collect samples from an asteroid

• To destroy an asteroid

• To observe an asteroid's surface

• To change the orbit of an asteroid

Which rocket was used to launch the DART mission?

• Delta IV

• Falcon 9

• Atlas V

• Soyuz

What was the result of the DART mission's impact on the asteroid Dimorphos?

• It had no effect

• It changed the asteroid's orbit

• It destroyed the asteroid

• It caused the asteroid to split

What is the significance of the ejecta observed after the DART mission impact?

• It shows the asteroid's speed

• It confirms the asteroid's orbit

• It indicates the asteroid's composition

• It reveals the asteroid's size

What is one potential risk of deflecting an asteroid with large chunks of rock?

• It could spread the damage

• It could increase the asteroid's speed

• It could cause the asteroid to explode

• It could change the asteroid's composition

What is the current likelihood of a catastrophic asteroid impact in the next century and a half?

• Low

• Moderate

• Impossible

• Very high

What is the main reason for continued vigilance against asteroid threats?

• To explore new asteroids

• To observe asteroid orbits

• To prevent potential impacts

• To collect asteroid samples