Tianwen 1 enters the orbit of Mars for an ambitious mission. XINHUA
After traveling more than seven months in space, Tianwen 1 is one step closer to Mars! Tianwen 1, China’s first Mars probe, successfully entered Mars orbit in February, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA). It will stay in orbit for about three months before landing on the red planet.
经过7个多月的太空飞行，天问一号离火星又近了一步！据国家航天局消息，我国首个火星探测器天问一号已于今年二月成功进入火星轨道。现阶段天问一号还将环绕火星轨道飞行约3个月，然后登陆这颗红色星球。
A small step on the red planet will be a big step for human beings. Humans have launched 46 Mars exploration missions since October 1960, but only 19 of them have been successful, according to China Daily. It’s China’s first spacecraft to Mars, and the missions are rather ambitious. Tianwen 1 aims to achieve “orbiting, landing, and roving” all in one journey, which will make the country the world’s first to accomplish all three goals with one probe, mission scientists said.
在这颗红色星球上的一小步，是人类的一大步。据《中国日报》报道，自1960年10月至今，人类共组织实施了46次火星探测任务，但只有19次成功。这是中国首个火星探测器，也被寄予了厚望。探测任务专家表示，天问一号计划实现“绕、着、巡”的一揽子计划，如果成功，我国将成为全球首个一次性完成“绕、落、巡”三大任务的国家。
Among the three tasks, touchdown on the red planet is the most difficult. The result mainly depends on the “breathtaking seven minutes,” which will deploy multiple cutting-edge technologies and accurate timing of each action, including the burning of engines and opening of parachutes to ensure a safe landing, according to the Global Times.
在三大任务中，最难的一项是在火星表面着陆。据《环球时报》报道，着陆成功与否主要取决于“恐怖七分钟”，这期间会运用数种前沿技术，每一步都需精确定时，如启动发动机，展开降落伞等，确保安全着陆。
The previous success of Chang’e 5 has accumulated experience in this regard which “boosts our confidence”, Wang Ya’nan, chief editor of Beijing-based Aerospace Knowledge magazine, told the Global Times.
嫦娥五号此前的成功为这方面积累了经验，并“增强了我们的自信，”《航空知识》杂志主编王亚南在接受《环球时报》采访时如此表示。
February was Mars month. NASA’s Perseverance Rover landed on Mars on Feb 19, and China’s Tianwen 1 and United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) Hope have arrived within orbit of the red planet. Although they started their Mars journeys at almost the same time, their missions vary. The Mars mission Hope Probe successfully entered the orbit of Mars on Feb 9, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) announced. Perseverance landed in a deep crater near the planet’s equator called Jezero and will collect samples of rock and soil for further research, according to the BBC. Tianwen 1’s ultimate goal is to land a rover on Mars in May or June, and it will conduct scientific investigations on Mars’ soil, geological structure, environment, atmosphere and water, according to China Daily.
2月是火星月。2月19日，美国航空航天局的“毅力号”火星车登陆火星，而中国的天问一号与阿联酋“希望号”都进入了火星轨道。尽管这些探测器的发射时间相近，但它们的任务却大不相同。穆罕默德·本·拉希德航天中心宣布，2月9日，“希望号火星探测器成功进入火星轨道。据英国广播公司报道，“毅力号”着陆在火星赤道附近一个名为耶泽罗的深坑，将收集岩石和土壤样本，用以进一步研究。《中国日报》报道称，天问一号的最终目标是于今年五月到六月择机着陆火星，并对火星的土壤、地质构造、环境、大气层以及水进行科学调研。
“When we step into the far planets of the solar system, the magnitude of the resources and timeline required will take a global commitment,” US Congressman Frank Lucas said, highlighting the importance of international cooperation in space.
“当我们踏上太阳系中的遥远行星时，所需的大量资源与时间需要全球共同努力，”美国议员弗兰克·卢卡斯在强调国际航天合作的重要性时如此说到。
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