Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: JUNO
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
Space missions to planets in our solar system are important achievements in science and technology. The United States space agency NASA has launched several missions to study Jupiter, the largest planet in the solar system. This question asks you to identify the name of the NASA spacecraft specifically sent to study Jupiter in detail, including its atmosphere, magnetic field, and internal structure.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
NASA named the Jupiter mission Juno. The spacecraft Juno was launched to investigate Jupiters composition, gravity field, magnetic field, and polar magnetosphere. The other names listed are not real NASA missions and are designed to act as distractors by sounding like Juno. Recognising the distinctive and correct name Juno among the options, and knowing that it is associated with Jupiter, allows you to answer correctly.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Read the question carefully and note that it asks for a NASA mission to Jupiter.
Step 2: Recall that the NASA spacecraft Juno was specifically sent to orbit and study Jupiter.
Step 3: Check the options and look for the name that exactly matches this mission.
Step 4: Identify JUNO among the options as the correct spelling and name of this spacecraft.
Step 5: Choose JUNO as the answer, ignoring the similar sounding but incorrect names.
Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, you can recall basic facts about the Juno mission. The spacecraft uses solar panels instead of nuclear power, travels in a polar orbit around Jupiter, and has instruments to measure radiation, magnetic fields, and atmospheric composition. Public sources consistently refer to this mission as Juno. There are no NASA missions to Jupiter called Luno, Mono, or Tano, so the presence of those names in the options further confirms that they are distractors, leaving Juno as the only accurate choice.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
LUNO: Not the name of a NASA Jupiter mission, and no major spacecraft by this name is associated with Jupiter.
MONO: Another invented name that sounds like Juno but does not correspond to an actual Jupiter mission.
TANO: Also not the official name of any well known NASA spacecraft sent to study Jupiter.
Common Pitfalls:
Since the distractor options are designed to sound similar, students may misread the spelling or get confused in a hurry. Another pitfall is to confuse Juno with earlier missions like Galileo, which also studied Jupiter but is not listed among the options. To avoid these mistakes, slow down enough to read the spellings clearly and mentally connect the name Juno with Jupiter and with its specific research goals before selecting your answer.
Final Answer:
The NASA spacecraft sent on a mission to study Jupiter is JUNO.
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