Asteroid Bennu and the OSIRIS-REx Mission Quiz

What is the primary scientific objective of the OSIRIS-REx mission?

• To map the Milky Way galaxy

• To explore the surface of Mars

• To study the Sun's atmosphere

• To understand if asteroids like Bennu delivered life's building blocks to Earth

Why was asteroid Bennu chosen for the OSIRIS-REx mission?

• It has a unique magnetic field

• It is the closest asteroid to Earth

• It has a high abundance of carbon

• It is the largest asteroid in the solar system

What role did stereoscopic images play in the OSIRIS-REx mission?

• They provided images of the Sun

• They were used to select the sample site on Bennu

• They helped in mapping the entire solar system

• They were used to communicate with the spacecraft

What is stereoscopy primarily used for?

• Measuring the speed of light

• Creating 3D images from two viewpoints

• Analyzing chemical compositions

• Tracking the movement of stars

What unexpected challenge did the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft face during the landing on Bennu?

• A malfunction in the spacecraft's engines

• A sudden solar storm

• A collision with another asteroid

• The asteroid's surface was like a ballpit

What is the diameter of the sample return capsule used in the OSIRIS-REx mission?

• 50 cm

• 120 cm

• 80 cm

• 100 cm

At what speed will the capsule enter Earth's atmosphere?

• 35,000 mph

• 27,000 mph

• 15,000 mph

• 10,000 mph

Where will the OSIRIS-REx sample capsule land?

• In the Australian outback

• In the Amazon rainforest

• In the Utah desert

• In the Sahara Desert

What will scientists analyze in the samples from Bennu?

• The presence of water

• The chemical composition and mineralogy

• The asteroid's temperature

• The asteroid's magnetic field

What fundamental question does the study of Bennu's samples aim to address?

• The expansion of the universe

• How to travel faster than light

• The origins of life and the solar system

• The formation of black holes