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Q82 (CAPF/2012) Science & Technology › Space & Defence Technology › Space exploration missions Answer Verified

Consider the following statements about the ‘Curiosity' rover : 1. It is a robotic mission for exploration of the Mars launched by NASA. 2. It is powered by solar energy. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: A
Explanation

The 'Curiosity' rover is a robotic mission launched by NASA as part of the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) program [1]. It was launched in November 2011 and successfully landed in Mars' Gale Crater in August 2012 to explore the planet's surface and past habitability [2]. While many previous Mars rovers relied on solar panels, Curiosity is specifically powered by a Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG) [2]. This 'nuclear battery' converts the heat generated by the radioactive decay of plutonium-238 into electricity. This power system allows the rover to operate reliably across various landing sites and seasons, providing both electrical power and waste heat to keep its instruments functional in the cold Martian environment. Therefore, statement 1 is correct, but statement 2 is incorrect as it is not solar-powered.

Sources

  1. [1] https://www.energy.gov/ne/articles/powering-curiosity-multi-mission-radioisotope-thermoelectric-generators
  2. [2] https://mars.nasa.gov/internal_resources/788/
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