And we start today in Japan where the country with the world's third largest economy is now fully in the space race after becoming the latest nation to land a spacecraft on the moon.
今天我们从日本开始报道。这个世界第三大经济体在成为最新一个将航天器降落在月球的国家后,现在已经全面进入了太空竞赛。
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency or JAXA says it's uncrewed robotic explorer called SLIM, which stands for the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon, made a soft landing on the lunar surface.
日本宇宙航空研究开发机构(JAXA)表示,日本无人机器探测器SLIM在月球表面实现了软着陆。SLIM代表Smart Lander for Investigating Moon(智能月球探测器)。
But the agency says the mission may end earlier than expected because the spacecraft solar cell is not producing enough electricity.
但JAXA表示,由于航天器的太阳能电池无法产出充足的电量,任务可能会比预期结束得早。
The lander's battery power is so limited that JAXA believes it might only last for several hours.
航天着陆器的电池电量极其有限,JAXA认为其电量可能只能持续几个小时。
As the agency continues to examine the latest data on the cause of the lander's solar cell issue, space officials believe SLIM is actually not pointing in the correct direction.
随着JAXA持续对着陆器太阳能电池问题成因的最新数据进行检查,航空官员认为SLIM实际上没有对准正确的方向。
The Japanese space agency, however, still declared this mission of minimum success due to the fact that this was a precise, soft lunar landing.
然而,日本航天局仍然宣布这次任务取得了小小的成功,因为这是一次精确的软着陆。
Japan is now the fifth nation in history to land on the moon, joining the United States, China, India, and the former Soviet Union.
日本现在是继美国、中国、印度和前苏联之后,历史上第五个登陆月球的国家。
Japan is looking to make even more strides in the great space race.
日本希望在伟大的太空竞赛中取得更大的进步。
As Japanese astronauts may be teaming up with NASA's Artemis program on a mission that looks to land the first woman and first person of color on the moon.
日本宇航员可能会与美国宇航局的阿尔忒弥斯计划合作执行一项任务,目的是将第一位女性和第一位有色人种送上月球。
Our space and defense correspondent Kristin Fisher has more.
CNN太空和国防记者克里斯汀·费舍尔带来详细报道。
Well, the good news is that Japan's Moon Sniper, lunar lander, has touched down on the surface of the moon, but there's a problem.
好消息是,日本的“月球狙击手”(月球着陆器)已经在月球表面着陆,但还存在一个问题。
And the problem is that it's having a tough time generating power.
问题是着陆器发电遇到了困难。
There's an issue with one of the lunar lander's solar cells.
月球着陆器的一个太阳能电池出了问题。
And so, Japan's space agency, JAXA is working right now, troubleshooting. They're trying to fix it. And there is a chance that it could be fixed.
日本航天机构JAXA现在正在进行故障排除。他们正在试图进行维修。有可能将着陆器维修好。
It may just have -- may just have to wait until the sun actually moves position and can reach those solar cells.
可能只需要等待,等到太阳移动位置,可以照射到那些太阳能电池。
But it's just too soon to say, we're going have to wait.
但现在下结论还为时过早,我们还得等等。
But the good news is that Japan was able to pull off this very complex mission.
但好消息是,日本有能力完成这项非常复杂的任务。
I mean, just landing a spacecraft on the moon is something that only four other countries have been able to do.
我指的是,仅仅将航天器降落到月球上,这项任务除了日本只有四个国家能够做到。
Only two others in this century, China and India, even the United States hasn't been able to do it, or haven't even really tried since the end of the Apollo program back in 1972.
而在本世纪,只有两个国家中国和印度成功着陆月球,甚至美国都没能成功着陆,或者说,自从1972年阿波罗计划结束以来美国没有真正尝试过登月。
So, a big step forward for Japan and its space agency.
日本与日本航天局向前迈出了一大步。
But still too soon to say, if this mission is fully a success. That's going take a bit of time.
但现在说这次任务是否获得圆满成功还为时过早。还需花点时间等待。
The other thing that's too soon to determine is if this lunar lander is going to live up to its name as the Moon Sniper because it was going for a really precise target.
另一件现在还不能确定的事情是,这个月球着陆器是否能担当得起“月球狙击手”的名号,因为它力求实现精确对准。