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國際時事跟讀 Ep. L188: Humanity Returns to Lunar Space After 54 Years
Highlights 主題摘要
- NASA's Artemis II launched on April 1, marking humanity's first journey beyond low Earth orbit since 1972.
- The crew flew 252,756 miles from Earth, breaking the Apollo 13 distance record by over 4,000 miles.
- After a 10-day mission covering 694,481 miles, Orion safely splashed down off San Diego's coast.
More than half a century after the last Apollo moonwalkers returned home, humanity has ventured back into deep space. NASA's Space Launch System rocket lifted off from Kennedy Space Center on April 1, 2026, carrying four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft named "Integrity." The crew—Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen—embarked on the first crewed test flight beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17. The massive rocket generated 8.8 million pounds of thrust, marking a flawless start to the 10-day journey that would take them farther from Earth than any humans before.
時隔半個多世紀，自最後一批阿波羅太空人返回地球後，人類再次踏入深太空。2026年4月1日，美國國家航空暨太空總署的太空發射系統火箭從甘迺迪太空中心升空，搭載四名太空人乘坐命名為「誠信號」的獵戶座太空船。機組人員包括指揮官里德·懷斯曼、駕駛維克多·格洛弗、任務專家克莉絲汀娜·柯克及加拿大太空人傑瑞米·漢森，展開自阿波羅17號以來首次飛離近地軌道的載人測試飛行。這枚巨型火箭產生880萬磅推力，完美開啟這趟將把他們送往比過去任何人類更遠之處的十天旅程。
The day after launch, Orion's main engine fired for six minutes in a translunar injection burn, breaking free from Earth orbit and accelerating the crew to over 24,000 miles per hour toward the Moon. During their lunar flyby, the spacecraft swooped to within 4,067 miles of the surface, offering unprecedented views of the far side. The astronauts observed ancient impact basins like Orientale and Hertzsprung, witnessed a solar eclipse lasting nearly an hour, and documented meteoroid strikes flashing across the darkened surface. At their farthest point, they reached 252,756 miles from Earth, shattering Apollo 13's distance record. Mission Specialist Hansen marked the moment by proposing to name two unnamed craters after their spacecraft and Commander Wiseman's late wife.
發射隔天，獵戶座主引擎點火六分鐘，執行奔月軌道注入，掙脫地球軌道後將機組人員加速至每小時超過2萬4000英里朝月球前進。在繞月飛行期間，太空船俯衝至距離月表僅4067英里處，呈現月球背面前所未見的景觀。太空人觀測到東方海和赫茨普龍等古老撞擊盆地，目睹持續近一小時的日食，並記錄隕石撞擊在黑暗月表閃現的光芒。在最遠點，他們抵達距地球25萬2756英里處，打破阿波羅13號的距離紀錄。任務專家漢森提議以他們的太空船和懷斯曼指揮官已故妻子的名字，為兩個未命名隕石坑命名，標記這一刻。
After completing their observations, Orion used lunar gravity to swing back on a free-return trajectory toward Earth. The crew prepared for reentry by conducting emergency drills and testing critical systems. Following their 694,481-mile journey, the capsule separated from its service module and plunged into the atmosphere at 25,000 miles per hour. Protected by a heat shield enduring temperatures of 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit, Orion splashed down in the Pacific Ocean just 2.9 miles from its target. Navy teams recovered the astronauts and transported them to the USS John P. Murtha for medical checks. The successful mission validated vital systems for future lunar landings and confirmed that the path to sustained Moon exploration—and eventually Mars—now lies open.
完成觀測後，獵戶座利用月球重力以自由返回軌道擺盪回地球。機組人員進行緊急演習並測試關鍵系統，為重返大氣層做準備。經過69萬4481英里的旅程後，太空艙與服務艙分離，以每小時2萬5000英里衝入大氣層。在承受華氏3000度高溫的隔熱罩保護下，獵戶座號降落於太平洋，距離目標僅2.9英里。海軍團隊救出太空人，並將他們送往約翰·P·穆爾薩號軍艦接受醫療檢查。這次成功任務驗證了未來登月的重要系統，並確認通往持續探索月球，最終前往火星的道路已然敞開。
Keyword Drills 關鍵字
- Break free [verb phrase, to escape from a force or constraint]: The spacecraft broke free from Earth's gravity.
- Translunar injection [noun phrase, a rocket burn sending a spacecraft toward the Moon]: The translunar injection burn lasted six minutes.
- Flyby [noun, a close pass by a celestial body without landing]: The lunar flyby lasted seven hours.
- Heat shield [noun, protective barrier against extreme reentry temperatures]: The heat shield endured 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Splashdown [noun, the landing of a spacecraft in water]: The crew's splashdown was right on target.
Reference article:
1. https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasas-artemis-ii-mission-leaves-earth-orbit-for-flight-around-moon/
2. https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/artemis-ii-live-tracker-day-5
3. https://gizmodo.com/artemis-2-live-updates-countdown-to-the-moon-%F0%9F%94%B4-2000740775
4. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/watch-live-nasa-shares-update-on-artemis-ii-mission-around-the-moon-2-days-after-launch
5. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly148lvyevo