The Mars Climate Orbiter Crashed on the Surface of Mars

question 8

Multiple Choice

The Mars Climate Orbiter crashed on the surface of Mars because

• A) one program output thrust in terms of foot-pounds, and another program expected thrust to be expressed in terms of newtons.
• B) the probe lost contact with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory when it entered the Martian atmosphere.
• C) a bug in the computer program caused the vehicle to consume too much fuel on the way to Mars, leaving an inadequate supply for landing.
• D) the extreme cold of deep space caused the computer to crash.
• E) before programmers went on strike at subcontractor Lockheed Martin, one of them sabotaged the flight control software.

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Definitions:

Stable

Describes a condition or state that is not easily changed, disturbed, or prone to emotional fluctuation; denotes reliability and consistency.

Predictable

Describing something or someone whose actions or outcomes can be anticipated or estimated with a good degree of certainty based on past occurrences or known patterns.

Cross-cultural Research

Studies aimed at examining cultural variability by comparing psychological variables across different cultures to understand universal versus culture-specific behaviors.

English-speaking Countries

Nations where English is the primary language for communication, governance, and education.