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The American space agency NASA has cleared a spacecraft to launch next month to look for possible signs of life on Jupiter’s moon Europa.
美国航天局NASA批准了一艘宇宙飞船将于下月发射，以寻找木星卫星木卫二上可能存在生命的迹象。
Agency officials announced plans for the Europa Clipper spacecraft at a press briefing last week.
该机构官员在上周的新闻发布会上宣布了欧罗巴快艇航天器的计划。
The launch window for the mission will open October 10.
此次任务的发射窗口将于10月10日开启。
The spacecraft is to launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
该航天器将在佛罗里达州的美国宇航局肯尼迪航天中心发射。
It will be carried to space aboard a Falcon Heavy rocket built by SpaceX.
它将搭载SpaceX公司制造的猎鹰重型火箭进入太空。
The main goal of the mission is for the spacecraft to collect data on whether Jupiter’s icy moon could possibly support life.
这项任务的主要目标是让航天器收集关于木星结冰的卫星是否可能支持生命的数据。
Scientists have identified Europa as a good candidate for holding the right conditions to support life.
科学家们已经确定木卫二是一个拥有生命存活所需要的合适条件的很好的候选者。
Several studies have suggested it likely contains a very large ocean beneath its icy surface.
几项研究表明，在其结冰的表面下，可能含有一片非常大的海洋。
In an online description, NASA says liquid water is necessary for planets or moons to support the “complex chemistry” processes that can make life possible.
在一份网上描述中，NASA说，液态水对于行星或卫星来说是必要的，以支持可能使生命成为可能的“复杂的化学”这个过程。
A huge, salty ocean likely lies beneath Europa’s surface and could hold “more water than Earth’s oceans combined,” the space agency added.
该航天局补充说，木卫二表面下可能存在一个巨大的咸海，其容纳的水可能比地球海洋的总和还要多。
Scientists have also discovered evidence of chemical compounds and energy forces – including very strong gravity – that could provide the right conditions to support life.
科学家们还发现了化合物和能量力量的证据--包括非常强大的重力--它们可能提供支持生命的合适条件。
Europa is a little smaller than Earth’s moon but is still one of the largest moons in our solar system.
木卫二比地球的月球略小，但仍然是太阳系中最大的卫星之一。
It is one of many moons orbiting Jupiter.
它是围绕木星运行的众多卫星之一。
Astronomers announced in 2023 they had discovered 12 additional moons orbiting Jupiter.
天文学家在2023年宣布，他们发现了另外12颗围绕木星运行的卫星。
NASA says the planet now has a total of 95 confirmed moons.
美国宇航局表示，木星目前共有95颗已确认的卫星。
It is estimated to take six years for the robotic, solar-powered spacecraft to reach Europa.
据估计，这艘由太阳能驱动的机器人航天器需要六年时间才能到达木卫二。
The orbiter is the largest spacecraft built by NASA to investigate another planet.
该轨道器是NASA建造的调查另一颗行星的最大航天器。
It reaches about 30 meters when fully open.
当它完全展开时，可以达到约30米宽。
The orbiter is expected to perform many flybys of Europa.
预计该轨道器将多次飞越木卫二。
Some may get as close as 25 kilometers away from the moon.
其中某些时候可能距离月球只有25公里。
After launching, NASA says Europa Clipper will fly past Mars, then back toward Earth, “using the gravity of each planet to increase its momentum.”
NASA说，发射后，欧罗巴快艇将飞越火星，然后返回地球，“利用每颗行星的引力来增加其动量”。
These kinds of “gravity assists” are expected to provide the needed push to get the spacecraft to Jupiter by 2030.
这类“重力助推器”有望提供所需的推力，使航天器在2030年前到达木星。
After reaching Jupiter, Europa Clipper will then spend about one year preparing for the flybys of Europa.
在到达木星后，欧罗巴快艇将花费大约一年的时间为飞越木卫二做准备。
NASA says the spacecraft is equipped with nine different scientific instruments.
NASA表示，该航天器配备了九种不同的科学仪器。
They are designed to collect data from all areas of the moon.
它们的设计目的是从月球的所有区域收集数据。
None of the instruments themselves were built with the ability to confirm the existence of life forms.
这些仪器本身都不具备确认生命形式存在的能力。
But they are designed to investigate Europa’s icy surface and the composition of the moon’s underground ocean for signs of possible life.
但它们的设计是为了调查木卫二结冰的表面和月球地下海洋的组成，以寻找可能的生命迹象。
Team leaders say Europa Clipper will also use several cameras – including two using infrared technology – to map the moon in greater detail than in the past.
团队负责人说，欧罗巴快艇还将使用几个相机--包括两个使用红外线技术的相机--比过去更详细地绘制月球地图。
Radar technology will also be used to collect data on the moon’s interior and to measure gravity.
雷达技术还将用于收集月球内部的数据和测量重力。
Together, the instruments and cameras will seek information about Europa’s current and past chemistry and geology.
这些仪器和相机将一起寻找有关木卫二现在和过去的化学和地质信息。
Gina DiBraccio is the acting director of NASA’s planetary science division in Washington.
吉娜·迪布拉西奥是美国宇航局位于华盛顿的行星科学部的代理主任。
She told the press briefing the agency is pleased to finally be moving the mission forward after years of planning and preparation.
她在新闻发布会上表示，该机构很高兴在经过多年的计划和准备后，终于能够推进这项任务。
“As an ocean world, Europa is very intriguing. And this mission is going to help us to understand a complex piece of our solar system.”
“作为一个海洋世界，木卫二非常耐人寻味。这项任务将帮助我们了解太阳系的一个复杂部分。”
Jordan Evans is Europa Clipper’s project manager.
乔丹·埃文斯是欧罗巴快艇的项目经理。
He said the last part of the preparation process involved testing of electronic transistors widely used on the spacecraft.
他说，准备过程的最后一部分涉及对航天器上广泛使用的电子晶体管的测试。
His team wanted to make sure the transistors could survive the large amounts of radiation Europa Clipper is expected to be hit with in space.
他的团队希望确保晶体管能够经受住木卫二快艇预计在太空中受到的大量辐射。
After the tests, Evans said mission leaders were persuaded that the transistors could recover from the effects of heavy radiation during breaks from flybys of the moon.
埃文斯说，测试结束后，任务领导人被说服，在月球飞行休息期间，晶体管可以从强辐射的影响中恢复过来。
He said this meant all elements of the mission should be able to be carried out as planned.
他说，这意味着任务的所有组成部分都应该能够按计划执行。
Evans added, “We are ready for Jupiter.” I’m Bryan Lynn.
埃文斯补充道：“我们已经准备好前往木星了。”我是布莱恩 · 林恩。
