Question

If we are to expand the exploration of our solar system our next manned flight should be to Phobos, one of Mars's moons, rather than to Mars itself. The flight times to each are the same but the Phobos expedition would require less than half the fuel load of a Mars expedition and would, therefore, be much less costly. So, it is clear that Phobos should be our next step in space exploration.
Which one of the following, if true, would most help to explain the difference in fuel requirement?

(A) More equipment would be required to explore Phobos than to explore Mars.
(B) Smaller spaceships require less fuel than larger spaceships.
(C) Information learned during the trip to Phobos can be used during a subsequent trip to Mars.
(D) The shortest distance between Phobos and Mars is less than half the shortest distance between Earth and Mars.
(E) Lift-off for the return trip from Phobos requires much less fuel than that from Mars because of Phobos weaker gravitational pull.

Answer 1

Answer:

E - Lift-off for the return trip from Phobos requires much less fuel than that from Mars because of Phobos weaker gravitational pull.

Explanation:

Fuel requirement might be lesser in case of Phobos expedition.

This explains the fact that fuel consumption during lift off from Phobos is greater than the fuel consumption during lift off from Mars. Therefore E is the best answer.