Gravity assist and interplanetary travel MCQs – Aerospace

1. Gravity assist, or gravity slingshot, is used to:
(A) Increase a spacecraft’s velocity by using the gravity of a planet or moon
(B) Decrease a spacecraft’s velocity by using atmospheric drag
(C) Change the spacecraft’s direction without changing its speed
(D) Achieve a stable orbit around a central body

2. The primary purpose of a gravity assist maneuver is to:
(A) Increase the spacecraft’s energy and speed
(B) Slow down the spacecraft for orbital insertion
(C) Change the spacecraft’s orientation
(D) Stabilize the spacecraft’s orbit

3. A gravity assist maneuver requires the spacecraft to:
(A) Fly close to a planet or moon to gain speed
(B) Use a rocket engine to increase its velocity
(C) Enter a stable orbit around the planet
(D) Perform a high-speed burn at periapsis

4. The trajectory of a spacecraft during a gravity assist is:
(A) An elongated path influenced by the planet’s gravity
(B) A circular path around the planet
(C) A straight line away from the planet
(D) A constant orbit around the spacecraft’s initial position

5. The effectiveness of a gravity assist depends on:
(A) The relative velocity of the spacecraft and the planet
(B) The mass of the spacecraft
(C) The distance between the spacecraft and the planet’s surface
(D) The spacecraft’s initial velocity

6. When a spacecraft performs a gravity assist, it:
(A) Gains kinetic energy from the planet’s gravity
(B) Loses energy to the planet’s atmosphere
(C) Gains gravitational potential energy only
(D) Loses gravitational potential energy

7. The direction of velocity change during a gravity assist is determined by:
(A) The spacecraft’s approach and departure angles relative to the planet
(B) The spacecraft’s propulsion system
(C) The central body’s rotation speed
(D) The spacecraft’s altitude

8. A gravity assist maneuver can be used to:
(A) Redirect a spacecraft’s path to another celestial body
(B) Slow down a spacecraft for orbital insertion
(C) Achieve a stable orbit around the Sun
(D) Change the spacecraft’s orientation in space

9. The Hohmann transfer orbit is commonly used for:
(A) Interplanetary missions with minimal energy expenditure
(B) In-orbit maneuvers to adjust spacecraft orientation
(C) Rapid acceleration in low-Earth orbit
(D) Directly reaching a high-speed orbit

10. Interplanetary travel involves:
(A) Traveling between planets within a solar system
(B) Traveling to and from the Moon
(C) Achieving a stable orbit around a star
(D) Moving between different galaxies