Chapter 4 Questions

Question 1

True/False: With only 38% of Earth’s gravity, less than 1% as much atmospheric mass density at surface, and no evident flowing water, weathering has not played a substantial role in creating the Martian soil we encounter now.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

True/False: Martian soil can be used as effective shielding against energetic particles resulting from Solar coronal mass ejections, against galactic cosmic rays, and even micrometeorites.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

What feasible design approach(es) could/can protect against SPEs, background radiation and micrometeoroid impacts on the lunar surface?

a. Utilize lunar regolith to cover exposed habitats
b. Line habitats with hydrocarbons, water, etc. to counter thermal neutron
c. Use sloped surfaces to help deflect micrometeorites, much like sloped armor on terrestrial military tanks
d. Both a and b
e. Both a and c
f. All of the above

Answer 3

f. All of the above

Question 4

What inputs contribute to lunar surface temperature?
a. Atmospheric convection
Heat load from the interior of the lunar mantle,
The periodic diurnal cycle

b. Atmospheric convection
Radiation absorbed from the Sun,
Heat load from the interior of the lunar mantle,

c. Radiation absorbed from the Sun,
Heat load from the interior of the lunar mantle,
The periodic diurnal cycle

d. Heat load from the interior of the lunar mantle,
The periodic diurnal cycle

Answer 4

c. Radiation absorbed from the Sun,
Heat load from the interior of the lunar mantle,
The periodic diurnal cycle

Question 5

Which statements about the Moon’s Resources are true?
a. Oxygen is the largest component by both number and mass across the entire lunar surface,
Solar wind gasses can be found at all levels of the lunar regolith,
Lunar minerals crystallized in highly reducing conditions without exposure to water
b. Solar wind gasses can be found at all levels of the lunar regolith,
Lunar minerals crystallized in highly reducing conditions without exposure to water
Lunar maria contains more than trace amounts of Titanium and Sodium
c. Oxygen is the largest component by both number and mass across the entire lunar surface,
Lunar minerals crystallized in highly reducing conditions without exposure to water

d. Oxygen is the largest component by both number and mass across the entire lunar surface,
Solar wind gasses can be found at all levels of the lunar regolith,
Lunar maria contains more than trace amounts of Titanium and Sodium

Answer 5

a. Oxygen is the largest component by both number and mass across the entire lunar surface,
Solar wind gasses can be found at all levels of the lunar regolith,
Lunar minerals crystallized in highly reducing conditions without exposure to water

Question 6

What are the primary causes of long-term deleterious effects on mechanical or electrical systems deployed on the lunar surface?
a. Seismic activity
Chemical interaction with lunar soil or dust
b. Physical interaction with lunar soil or dust,
Chemical interaction with lunar soil or dust
c. Physical interaction with lunar soil or dust,
Seismic activity

Answer 6

b. Physical interaction with lunar soil or dust,

Chemical interaction with lunar soil or dust

Question 7

Martian surface macrostructure is understood today principally through:

a. Telescopic observations from Earth
b. Return data from Martian surface rovers
c. Mars orbiting spacecraft images
d. Meteorites found on Earth that originated with impacts on Mars
e. All of the above
f. Only a, b and c

Answer 7

e. All of the above

Question 8

What is the mission-level Mars surface rover design trade-off that can most influence the chance of discovering evidence of life by mission’s end?

a. Autonomous path planning and collision avoidance vs. tele-operation
b. Safer, flatter landing site vs. variegated, more diverse-featured objective
c. Solar panels & batteries vs. nuclear power
d. Wheels vs. tracks

Answer 8

b. Safer, flatter landing site vs. variegated, more diverse-featured objective

Question 9

What is/are the best indicator(s) we currently have that chemical reactivity in the Martian soil will have little deleterious effect on long-term habitats?
a. Extremely low Mars surface temperatures
The absence of organic material found by the Viking lander’s chemistry and biology suites
b. The absence of organic material found by the Viking lander’s chemistry and biology suites,
Extremely low Mars surface temperatures,
Mars surface rover lifetimes that far exceed design
c. Extremely low Mars surface temperatures,
Chemical surface composition deduced by long-term photo-interpretation of images from various Mars orbiting spacecraft
d. The absence of organic material found by the Viking lander’s chemistry and biology suites,
Mars surface rover lifetimes that far exceed design

Answer 9

a. Extremely low Mars surface temperatures

The absence of organic material found by the Viking lander’s chemistry and biology suites

Question 10

Which insitu resources are advantages to future long-term Martian surface habitation over Lunar surface habitation?
a. Martian gravity, approximately twice that of the Moon’s, simplifies surface movement (rolling, tracking, walking) and reduces bone loss with protracted exposure
Martian atmosphere provides source for water and processed rocket reaction fuels, while providing nearly complete protection from solar storms and micrometeorites

b. Martian atmosphere provides source for water and processed rocket reaction fuels, while providing nearly complete protection from solar storms and micrometeorites
Martian soil chemistry contains more variegated compounds with better hydrologic reactivity
c. Martian soil chemistry contains more variegated compounds with better hydrologic reactivity,
Martian gravity, approximately twice that of the Moon’s, simplifies surface movement (rolling, tracking, walking) and reduces bone loss with protracted exposure

d. Martian soil chemistry contains more variegated compounds with better hydrologic reactivity
Martian dust storms are predictable and almost always localized, vs. lingering, electrostatic Lunar dust clouds

Answer 10

c. Martian soil chemistry contains more variegated compounds with better hydrologic reactivity,
Martian gravity, approximately twice that of the Moon’s, simplifies surface movement (rolling, tracking, walking) and reduces bone loss with protracted exposure