Multiple choice general knowledge science & technology

To reach another planet, a spacecraft must be aimed:

  1. At the planet

  2. Midway between the two

  3. Where the planet will be when the spacecraft reaches it

  4. Near the planet
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Spacecraft must be aimed where the target planet will be at arrival, not where it is at launch. Planets move at different speeds along their orbits, so intercept calculations require precise timing. This is why launch windows occur at specific intervals. Aiming directly at the planet's current position would cause the spacecraft to miss because the planet will have moved by arrival time.

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