Technology Design and the Mars Science Laboratory Quiz

Physical Science - Semester II - Doral (Summer 2024) / The Environment

Question 3: Why couldn't the Mars Science Laboratory land using airbags to bounce to the Martian surface from a parachute as the Explorer rovers did in 2004 and the Pathfinder?

A. The presence of liquid water made it necessary to land the rover on its wheels.

B. Scientists and engineers were concerned that the airbags could become tangled in the MSL.

C. The heavier weight of the MSL made airbag landing technology impractical.

D. Engineers were worried the airbags might deflate too soon.



Answer :

Final answer:

The heavier weight of the MSL rendered airbag landing impractical for the Mars Science Laboratory, necessitating an alternative landing method.


Explanation:

Physics: Mars Science Laboratory Landing

The Mars Science Laboratory couldn't land using airbags due to the heavier weight of the MSL, which made airbag landing technology impractical for this mission. Using airbags might have led to concerns about them deflating too soon under the weight of the MSL, making a controlled landing difficult.


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