Exploring Pluto and Beyond: The New Horizons Mission

What was the primary goal of NASA's New Horizons mission?

• To investigate the rings of Saturn

• To reach and study Pluto and the Kuiper Belt

• To study the Sun's atmosphere

• To explore the surface of Mars

Who first predicted the existence of Pluto based on deviations in the orbits of Neptune and Uranus?

• Galileo Galilei

• Percival Lowell

• Clyde Tombaugh

• Isaac Newton

What was the cost of the New Horizons mission?

• $1 billion

• $2 billion

• $500 million

• $700 million

What significant feature was discovered on Pluto by the New Horizons mission?

• A giant canyon

• A large volcano

• A heart-shaped glacier

• A vast desert

What is the name of Pluto's largest moon?

• Hydra

• Nix

• Charon

• Styx

What is the composition of the dunes found on Pluto?

• Rocky debris

• Water ice

• Methane ice grains

• Sand

What color is Pluto's atmosphere as observed by the New Horizons mission?

• Red

• Yellow

• Green

• Blue

What is Arrokoth, as explored by the New Horizons mission?

• A new planet

• A Kuiper Belt Object

• A comet

• A star

What is the expected remaining lifespan of the New Horizons mission?

• 5 years

• 16 ½ years

• 20 years

• 10 years

What does the name 'Arrokoth' mean in the Powhatan/Algonquin language?

• Earth

• Sky

• Water

• Fire