NASA公布“重返月球”計劃 2020年建設月球常駐站

US Plans to Colonize Moon in 2020

Graphic shows concept drawing of NASA's proposed Orion space craft for future Lunar exploration. NASA announced 4 December that the United States plans to set up a colony on the south pole of the moon around 2020 as a base for further manned exploration of the solar system.[Photo: AFP Graphic]

The United States plans to set up a colony on the south pole of the moon around 2020 as a base for further manned exploration of the solar system, NASA announced.

The project, which would send a man back to the lunar surface for the first time since 1972, is designed as a long-term joint effort of 14 of the world's space agencies, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration said.

NASA plans to set up a solar-powered base on the moon's south pole that, after construction is completed, could serve as a forward base for manned missions to Mars.

The project will begin, NASA said, with four person crews visiting the moon on a series of week-long visits to build up a living quarters with its own power units and lunar exploration vehicles.

The first mission will be launched by 2020, in the current plan. Before human missions are started, unmanned robotic missions will be undertaken to lay the groundwork, handling landing site reconnaissance, natural resource assessments, and technology risk checks.

After the permanent facilities are established, the program will be 180 day visits to the moon, during which trips to Mars can be planned.

詞匯：
colony: n. 殖民地
launch: vt. 發(fā)動, 發(fā)起

相關鏈接：
NASA：2020年“重返月球”

美國國家航空和航天局(NASA)4日對外公布“重返月球”計劃，計劃2024年前建立有人常駐的月球考察站，地點可能選擇在月球南極或北極，其核心目標是以月球永久基地為跳板，為人類登陸火星甚至探索更遙遠的太空做準備。

普通游客也能逛“月宮”

NASA高級官員斯科特?霍羅威茨說:“我們要在月亮建一處基地?！?/font>