These space rocks are remnants of the first days of our solar system.

這些太空岩石是太陽系最初時期的遺蹟。

Agencies around the world are working to bring samples back, like NASA's Osiris-ReX and

世界各地的機構都在努力把樣本帶回來，比如美國宇航局的奧西里斯-REX和

JAXA's Hayabusa-2 because bringing a piece back is like looking into a time capsule from

JAXA的Hayabusa-2，因為帶著它回來，就像看一個時間膠囊一樣。

the universe.

宇宙。

But asteroids pose a serious threat to Earth.

但小行星對地球構成了嚴重威脅。

And ESA and NASA have a unique plan to combat that particular problem: they're going to

而歐空局和美國宇航局有一個獨特的計劃來解決這個特殊的問題：他們打算

slam a spacecraft into an asteroid.

將航天器撞向小行星；

There were several wide concepts, like going out and paint an asteroid white or black to

有幾個寬泛的概念，比如說出去把一顆小行星塗成白色或黑色，以

change its thermal radiation, or trying to capture with a net and attaching some engines.

改變其熱輻射，或者嘗試用網捕捉，並附加一些發動機。

After 15 years, scientists agree that the best and simplest way

15年後，科學家們一致認為，最好的、最簡單的方式是

is actually to hit an asteroid

實際上是要撞上一顆小行星

with a spacecraft at high velocity.

與航天器的高速。

So, Hera and DART are really the result of the scientific process over almost two decades.

所以，赫拉和DART確實是近二十年來科學進程的結果。

The scientific collaboration of these two missions is known as the Asteroid Impact and

這兩個任務的科學合作被稱為小行星撞擊和。

Deflection Assessment or AIDA.

撓度評估或AIDA。

NASA's will go first, with its Double Asteroid Redirection Test or DART mission.

美國宇航局的將首先進行，其雙小行星重定向測試或DART任務。

In 2022, DART will be the one to smash into an asteroid and help the AIDA mission to study

在2022年，DART將是砸向小行星的那顆，並幫助AIDA任務研究

how effective a kinetic impactor would be in asteroid deflection.

動能撞擊器對小行星偏轉的效果如何。

Four years after DART's impact, ESA's Hera probe will arrive to assess the effects

在DART撞擊四年後，歐空局的Hera探測器將抵達評估其影響。

of this hypervelocity impact and provide a clear post-mortem of DART's impact.

這種超高速的影響，並對DART的影響進行明確的事後分析。

Now, you might be wondering why four years later?

現在，你可能想知道為什麼四年後？

Won't that be too late?

那豈不是太晚了？

Well, in a 2005 NASA mission, its Deep Impact spacecraft shot a copper impactor at a comet,

在2005年美國宇航局的一次任務中 Well, in a 2005 NASA mission, 其 "深度撞擊 "航天器向一顆彗星發射了一個銅質撞擊器 its Deep Impact spacecraft shot a copper impactor at a comet,

hoping to capture the immediate collision.

希望能捕捉到眼前的碰撞。

Unfortunately, onboard cameras were clouded by millions of kilograms of debris.

遺憾的是，機上攝像頭被數百萬公斤的碎片所遮擋。

It wasn't until 2011, that another spacecraft was able to capture the aftermath.

直到2011年，另一個航天器才得以捕捉到這一後果。

So...let's just say that NASA and ESA learned their lesson.

所以......我們只能說，NASA和歐空局吸取了教訓。

So which asteroid is the lucky target?

那麼哪顆小行星是幸運的目標呢？

Well, there are hundreds of thousands of them, but one pair in particular stood out: Didymos.

好吧，有成千上萬的人，但有一對特別突出。Didymos。

It's an ideal candidate because it's in a binary asteroid system, so there isn't

它是一個理想的候選者，因為它是在一個雙子小行星系統中，所以不存在

just one asteroid, but two asteroids orbiting each other.

僅僅是一顆小行星，但兩個小行星互相環繞。

Using a binary asteroid is very important because scientists can test the deflection

使用雙生小行星是非常重要的，因為科學家們可以測試偏轉。

from DART a lot more easily because the smaller orbiting asteroid moves slower than an isolated one.

因為較小的軌道小行星的移動速度比孤立的小行星要慢得多。

While Didymos is the larger one, at around 780 meters in diameter, the main attraction

雖然Didymos是較大的一個，直徑約為780米，但主要的吸引力是

is the smaller Deemorfus.

是較小的Deemorfus。

At about 160 meters across, Dimorphos is perfect since it's a more typical size of an asteroid

迪莫非斯的直徑約160米，是完美的，因為它是一顆比較典型的小行星的大小。

that could threaten Earth.

可能威脅到地球的。

And just to put that into perspective, that's about the size of the Great Pyramid of Giza.

為了讓大家明白，這和吉薩大金字塔的大小差不多。

So we actually have no idea what is its composition, what is its structure.

所以我們其實不知道它的成分是什麼，結構是什麼。

This is something we really need to understand to have a good interpretation of the results

這是我們真正需要了解的東西，才能對結果有一個很好的詮釋。

of the DART impact.

的影響。

So to do that job, after DART's impact, Hera will have a suite of instruments aboard

所以，為了完成這項工作，在DART撞擊之後，Hera將在船上配備一套儀器。

to probe Dimorphos.

來探測迪莫非斯。

Firstly, Hera will test out its autopilot technology to get close to the asteroid's

首先，"赫拉 "號將測試其自動駕駛技術，以接近小行星的。

surface.

表面：

Using ground penetrating radar, the spacecraft will be able to see its internal structure,

利用地面穿透雷達，該航天器將能夠看到其內部結構。

similar to taking an X-ray of an asteroid.

類似於拍攝小行星的X光。

One of the main instruments onboard is the asteroid framing cameras, which will capture

艦上的主要儀器之一是小行星定格相機，它將捕捉到

the topology and surface structure, while a thermal infrared instrument will provide

拓撲結構和表面結構，而熱紅外儀器將提供以下資訊。

data on the strength of the surface material.

表面材料的強度數據；

There's also a gravimeter, which will measure the gravity field.

還有一個重力儀，可以測量重力場。

Hera will also have two CubeSats, and it will be the first time that ESA takes these mini

Hera還將擁有兩顆CubeSats，這將是歐空局首次將這些迷你。

satellites into deep space.

衛星進入深空。

The first will focus on low-frequency radar to probe the interior structure, while the

第一臺將集中使用低頻雷達探測內部結構，而第二臺則將集中使用低頻雷達探測內部結構。

second is a multi-spectral imager that will get data in different wavelengths to understand

二是多光譜成像儀，可以獲得不同波長的數據，以瞭解。

the composition of the asteroid.

小行星的構成；

So when can we expect to see this mission take off?

那麼我們什麼時候能看到這個任務起飛呢？

Well, DART is expected to launch in July 2021 on a SpaceX Falcon 9, while Hera will launch

好吧，DART預計將於2021年7月用SpaceX公司的獵鷹9號發射，而Hera則將發射。

in October 2024 on an ArianeSpace Ariane 6.

2024年10月，在ArianeSpace阿麗亞娜6號上。

The spacecraft will make multiple flybys around the asteroid, taking pictures and measurements

該航天器將圍繞小行星進行多次飛越，拍攝照片和測量。

with each one.

與各。

And as it gets closer, Hera will release the two CubeSats that will venture very close

而隨著時間的臨近，Hera將發佈兩顆將冒險非常接近的CubeSats。

to the surface until July 2027, when the mission will come to an end.

到地面，直到2027年7月任務結束。

But really though, what is the likelihood of an asteroid actually hitting Earth?

不過說真的，小行星真正撞擊地球的可能性有多大？

The question is when, but one day it will happen.

問題是什麼時候，但總有一天會發生。

And the good thing about asteroids is that by monitoring the sky, not only we can predict,

而小行星的好處是，通過對天空的監測，我們不僅可以預測。

when this will happen, but we can also do something about it.

什麼時候會出現這種情況，但我們也可以做些什麼。

So rest assured though, Dimorphos poses no threat to us earthlings.

所以放心吧，雖然迪摩摩斯對我們地球人不構成威脅。

But that's why gathering all the data now is so crucial to help us be better prepared

但這也是為什麼現在收集所有數據對幫助我們更好地做好準備如此關鍵的原因。

for when that day may possibly come.

為那一天可能到來的時候。

So there are many aspects that I really think are going to inspire people, and

所以有很多方面，我真的覺得是會給人以啟發，而且。

especially young generations, hopefully, to engage into science education and engineering

特別是年輕一代，希望他們能夠參與到科學教育和工程中來。

activities, and maybe learn about how the solar system forms.

活動，或許還能瞭解到太陽系的形成過程。

For more on asteroids, check out this episode on a mission that plans to send an orbiter

關於小行星的更多資訊，請看這一集關於一個計劃發送軌道器的任務的內容

to study an asteroid that may be made mostly out of metal.

研究一顆可能主要由金屬製成的小行星。

Is there another mission you'd like to see us cover?

你還想看我們執行什麼任務嗎？

Let us know in the comments below.

讓我們在下面的評論中知道。

Make sure to subscribe and thanks for watching.

一定要訂閱，謝謝觀看。