But this time, it will be the first round-trip mission, not to the Red Planet itself, but to its moons.

但這一次，它將是第一次往返任務，不是去紅色星球本身，而是去它的衛星。

In case you didn't know, Mars actually has two moons

你可能不知道，火星其實有兩顆衛星。

and JAXA is planning to land on one of them, Phobos,

而日本宇宙航空研究開發機構正計劃在其中的 "Phobos "上登陸。

and map the other, Deimos.

並映射出另一個，迪莫斯。

Once there, the spacecraft will observe and collect samples for return to Earth,

一旦到了那裡，該航天器將進行觀測並收集樣本，以便返回地球。

bringing back dust and rocks that haven't been present on Mars for billions of years.

把火星上幾十億年來都沒有出現過的塵埃和岩石帶回來。

The information held within the surface material

表面材料中的資訊

could potentially help us understand the formation of the Red Planet and its moons…

有可能幫助我們瞭解紅色星球及其衛星的形成... ...

and by extension, the formation of our solar system.

並延伸出太陽系的形成。

Or these samples could hold valuable clues to how life could have begun.

或者說，這些樣本可以提供有價值的線索，說明生命是如何開始的。

This mission, known as Martian Moons eXploration, or MMX,

這項任務被稱為 "火星探月"，即MMX。

is hoping that Phobos and Deimos could provide some insights on a few key areas of debate.

希望Phobos和Deimos能夠就幾個關鍵的辯論領域提出一些見解。

Starting with, where did these moons come from?

首先，這些月亮是怎麼來的？

The first theory is that the moons are leftover fragments from a giant impact Mars experienced

第一種說法是，衛星是火星經歷過的一次巨大撞擊後留下的碎片。

during its formation.

在其形成過程中。

If this is true, the moons could reveal rare clues about Mars' early environment.

如果這是真的，這些衛星可能會揭示出有關火星早期環境的罕見線索。

The second theory is that these moons are captured asteroids,

第二種說法是，這些衛星是被捕獲的小行星。

pulled into Mars' orbit separately after it formed.

形成後分別拉入火星軌道。

If this is true, the samples brought back could not only determine the moon's origin

如果這是真的，帶回來的樣本不僅可以確定月球的來源。

but also clarify how volatile substances, such as water, are brought to planets, making them habitable.

但也明確了水等揮發性物質是如何被帶到行星上，使其適合居住的。

Regardless of where the moons came from,

不管月亮是怎麼來的。

they are expected to have accumulated at least a billion years worth of ejected material

預計它們至少積累了價值10億年的彈射物質。

from the Martian surface.

從火星表面。

This is just another valuable source of data that researchers can dive into.

這只是研究人員可以深入研究的另一個寶貴的數據來源。

So, it's really a win-win scenario.

所以，這真的是一個雙贏的方案。

No matter what the samples tell us, we'll finally have some answers.

不管樣本告訴我們什麼，我們終於有了一些答案。

With so much at stake and other countries failing to make it to the moons, how has JAXA prepared?

事關重大，其他國家都未能登上月球，JAXA是如何準備的？

Well, this isn't their first space rodeo.

嗯，這不是他們的第一次太空競技。

MMX will actually be the agency's third sample-return mission.

MMX實際上將是該機構的第三次樣品返回任務。

In 2003 they sent Hayabusa to collect samples from the small asteroid Itokawa,

2003年，他們派出隼鳥號從小行星 "板川 "上採集樣本。

successfully returning in 2010.

2010年成功迴歸。

And in 2014, they sent Hayabusa2 to the asteroid Ryugu.

而在2014年，他們將隼鳥2號送到了小行星龍宮。

Learning from the challenges and achievements of these previous missions,

從以往這些任務的挑戰和成就中吸取經驗教訓。

MMX will be utilizing a lot of the same strategies to collect the samples and return home.

MMX將利用很多相同的策略來收集樣本並返回家中。

MMX system's design is composed of three modules: the propulsion, exploration, and return.

MMX系統的設計由三個模塊組成：推進、探索、返回。

These modules give the craft a total launch mass of about 4,000 kg.

這些模塊使該飛行器的總髮射品質約為4000公斤。

Before landing on Phobos, MMX will use its suite of instruments to conduct remote sensing observations

在登陸火衛一之前，MMX將使用其一套儀器進行遙感觀測。

that will help determine the composition of the moon.

這將有助於確定月球的組成。

These consist of cameras, spectrometers,

這些包括相機、光譜儀。

a light detection and ranging instrument, a dust instrument, and a gamma-ray and neutron instrument.

一個光探測和測距儀、一個塵埃儀、一個伽馬射線和中子儀；

There have even been some recent additions from JAXA, including a super high-definition 8K camera

最近JAXA甚至還增加了一些新的產品，包括一臺超高清8K相機。

and a rover that will explore the surface of Phobos,

和一輛將探索火衛一表面的漫遊車。

conducting observations with its own spectrometer, radiometer, and wheel cameras.

用自己的光譜儀、輻射計和輪式攝影機進行觀測。

As for their sampling system, JAXA is going with a double sampling approach.

至於他們的採樣系統，JAXA採用的是雙重採樣方式。

Remember, this moon has never been visited before.

記住，這個月球以前從未有人來過。

Much is unknown about the regolith on Phobos and it's possible ties to planet formation…

關於火衛一上的碎石以及它與行星形成的可能關係，還有很多未知數... ...

or even how life began in the solar system.

甚至生命是如何在太陽系中開始的。

The first approach will use a robotic arm to collect a sample of regolith 2 cm beneath the moon's surface,

第一種方法將使用機械臂收集月球表面下2釐米處的雷公石樣本。

also known as a core sample.

又稱芯樣。

The second approach, called pneumatic sampling,

第二種方法，叫氣動採樣。

will collect regolith from the surface,

將收集地表的碎石。

using air pressure to push the sample into a collection chamber.

利用空氣壓力將樣品推入收集室。

JAXA plans on launching this moon-hunting mission sometime in 2024,

日本宇宙航空研究開發機構計劃在2024年的某個時候發射這項探月任務。

and so far, it's on track.

到目前為止，它的軌道上。

But before we all get too excited, it will be awhile before we get to check out these samples,

不過，在大家還沒有太興奮之前，我們還需要一段時間才能查看這些樣品。

as MMX isn't scheduled to come home until 2029.

因為MMX要到2029年才會回家。

However, it will be worth the wait for this potentially groundbreaking data,

然而，為了這個潛在的突破性數據，這將是值得等待的。

as it could reveal how our solar system formed

因為它可以揭示太陽系的形成過程

and maybe even how life started on our planet.

甚至可能是我們星球上的生命是如何開始的。

Not only that, but the success of the very first Mars return mission will be a landmark step

不僅如此，首次火星迴歸任務的成功將是具有里程碑意義的一步。

towards shuttling humans to the Red Planet.

朝著將人類穿梭到紅色星球的方向發展。

To find out more about other missions heading to Mars,

要了解更多關於其他前往火星的任務。

check out our Countdown to Launch playlist here.

在這裡查看我們的啟動倒計時播放列表。

And if there's another mission you'd like to see us cover, let us know in the comments below.

如果還有其他你想看到我們報道的任務，請在下面的評論中告訴我們。

Make sure to subscribe and thanks for watching.

一定要訂閱，謝謝觀看。