touched down, allowing 12 men to walk on the lunar surface.

登陸月球，12 名太空人得以在月球表面上行走。

NASA's next chapter of lunar exploration, called Artemis, has the task of not just going

NASA 月球探險的下一篇章，稱作 Artemis，任務不只是登月

to the Moon, to create a long-term human presence on and around it, but also to prepare for

而且還要建立一個人類長期居住基地，但這也是為了

ever-more-complex human missions to Mars.

對於前往火星的複雜任務做準備。

In short, everything we must be able to do here, we must first do here.

簡而言之，我們想要在火星上達成的目標都要能先在月球上實現。

So, what will an Artemis mission look like?

那麼，Artemis 任務究竟是什麼？

Everything is designed and tested with our most important element in mind: the astronauts.

任何經過以任務中最重要的元素：「太空人」為核心來設計和測試都是任務中的一環。

This is their deep space, human-rated spacecraft called Orion, built in 3 parts: the crew module,

Orion 是替深入太空的太空人所打造的太空船，主要分成三個部分：機組員模式，

where up to 4 astronauts will live and work throughout the flight; the service module,

由四個太空人在航行中工作和生活；服務模式，由維生系統維持機組員基礎生命需求，

with life support systems for the crew and its own engine and fuel reserves; and a launch

並且降低燃料和引擎的能源耗損；以及最後部分，逃脫系統模式，

abort system, with engines capable of pulling the crew module to safety during launch, should

藉由引擎動力確保組員在發射過程中的安全，以及

anything go wrong.

其中發生的任何差錯。

To accomplish the task of launching our crew and heavy payloads, NASA is building the Space

為了完成載人以及載裝重物的發射任務，NASA 打造了太空發射系統

Launch System, comprising of a cargo hold, an Exploration Upper Stage, a massive core

由載物艙，一個探索載物台，包含了一個巨大核心載台

stage and 2 extended solid rocket boosters.

以及兩個延伸出來的固態火箭推進器。

All together, this is the world's most powerful rocket.

加總起來，這是世界上最強力的火箭。

And it exceeds the legendary Saturn V of the Apollo era in numerous ways.

且其在許多性能方面超越了傳說中阿波羅登月計劃時代的土星五號。

Sitting on the launch pad, the entire rocket, fully fueled, weighs just over 6 million pounds,

靜止在發射台上，油料全滿識整個火箭的重量超過六百萬磅，

5.2 million of which is just the fuel.

其中油料就佔了五百二十萬磅。

Once ignited, there is no stopping what comes next.

一旦點燃引擎，就沒有什麼能夠讓它停止了。

All 4 RS-25 engines and the 2 solid rocket boosters come to life, thundering our crew

四具 RS-25 引擎以及兩具固態火箭推進器全力推進，轟隆地帶領機組員

upwards.

直上雲霄。

Two minutes after ignition, the solid rocket boosters are spent and released.

出發後兩分鐘，固態火箭推進器燃料就會用盡並且與本體脫離。

Eight minutes after launch, the core stage is depleted and separated.

八分鐘後，主載台會分離。

The upper stage fires briefly, placing Orion into a parking orbit around the Earth.

載台上層會短暫地點火推進，使 Orion 好進駐環繞地球的軌道當中。

Here, the crew reconfigure the spacecraft and check systems to confirm everything is

此時，機組員會再次調整太空船的系統組態，並且檢查系統有無任何異狀，

ready for deep space travel.

替深度太空旅行做好準備。

With a "go" from Mission Control, the crew reignite the Exploration Upper Stage engines

當任務中控中心傳達「發射」訊號，機組員將會再次點燃 Exploration Upper Stage 的引擎

to leave Earth entirely.The exact timing of this maneuever is critical to reach a speed

完全地離開地球軌道。為了達到脫離地心引力的速度，

that can escape Earth's gravitational pull, but also put Orion on a course that will intersect

這一步進行的時機點至關重要，並且稍後也將 Orion 號置入登月軌道的

the Moon days later.

交叉點中。

Once this burn is complete, the upper stage of the SLS is jettisoned and the crew on board

一但燃燒階段完成，SLS 的上載台就被拋棄，而 Orion 上的機組員

Orion coast for several days toward all that awaits them at the Moon.

就在登月岸緣數日，朝向月球以及一切在等待他們的事物。

Approaching the Moon, we see the fundamental differences between Artemis and Apollo.

接近月球，我們看見阿波羅和阿提米斯的基本差異。

Instead of requiring Orion to serve as an expendable lunar command module or carry a

有別於 Orion 好擔任可替代的月球指令模組，也可以說是有限功能的

constrained lunar lander, the Artemis missions will take advantage of a different approach:

月球登陸器，阿提米斯的任務就會利用下列幾個不同步驟來完成：

pre-staging.

前台階段

Everything needed for lunar missions will be positioned in advance by commercial and

登月計劃所有相關必需品皆由國際的以及商業上夥伴

international partners.

預先準備好且放置在月球表面上。

This includes rovers, science experiments and human-rated systems on the surface.

這些指的是月球表面上的包括探測車，科學實驗以及人類評級系統等等。

But it also includes a dedicated lunar station in orbit around the Moon, called Gateway.

但這也包括了在月球軌道上名稱 Gateway 的太空站。

Here at the station, we can pre-stage a robust lunar lander and establish a strong communications

藉由這個站，我們可以預先調整一個穩定的月球登陸器，並且建立強力的通訊

relay.

中繼站。

Designed with open standards, the Gateway can be expanded as new missions and partnerships

以公開標準設計的 Gateway 可以因應不同的任務和夥伴需求調整擴充

develop, allowing multiple human missions on the Moon at the same time, and enabling

可以同時執行多個人類在月球上的任務，並且讓

ongoing science to be conducted even between human missions.

正在進行的科研能夠在幾個人類任務計劃中仍然照常執行。

The Gateway is also capable of adjusting its orbit to allow access to every part of the

Gateway 能夠調整自己的軌道去接受月球的每個角度發出的訊號

Moon, something the Apollo missions could not do.

這也是阿波羅計畫所做不到的程度。

But the real key in this approach is placing Gateway in a unique halo orbit to perfect

但真正的關鍵步驟是如何將 Gateway 放置在一個特殊的日暈軌道而能夠

the maneuvers needed for Mars missions.

完美地符合我們執行火星任務所需要的所有需求。

And, with a growing list of commercial and international opportunities, Gateway is the

並且，隨著國際和商業機會的增加，Gateway 是

ideal hub between Earth and all that lies beyond.

地球和宇宙間最好的連結點。

Returning to our crew as they approach Gateway, the Orion must match the elliptical orbit

回到我們接近 Gateway 的機組員，Orion 好必須完美契合太空站的橢圓形軌道

of the station in order to successfully dock.

以便能夠成功對接接合。

Once on board, preselected crew members transfer to the lunar lander while those assigned to

一但完成登佔作業，預選的機組員會被轉移到月球登陸器上，而被指派在 Gateway 上的

Gateway remain on station.

則繼續留下待命。

The lunar lander system itself is built for 3 unique steps: descending from the halo orbit

登月器系統本身建造上有三個特殊步驟：從 Gateway 的日暈軌道沉降到

of Gateway down to a low lunar orbit; descending from low lunar orbit to the surface; and once

近月軌道；第二是從近月軌道將落到月表；最後

the lunar mission is complete, launching from the surface of the Moon and ascending all

當月球任務完成，從月表發射火箭載著全體機組員

the way back to the orbiting Gateway.

返回正在繞行月球的 Gateway 站上。

Once back aboard the Orion spacecraft and undocked from Gateway, the crew fire their

一但回到 Orion 太空船上並且從 Gateway 號脫離，機組員點燃引擎

engines to break out of the halo orbit and once again to sling the spacecraft around

回到日暈軌道且再一次繞著月球自轉多日後逐漸

the Moon, placing it on a multi-day trajectory back towards Earth.

進入返回地球的軌道當中。

As they near the end of this journey, the service module is released and the crew module

當他們逐漸靠近這段旅程的尾聲時，服務模式轉成機組員模式，

is oriented heat shield-first.

開啟阻熱板準備返回地球大氣。

Entering Earth's atmosphere at 25,000 miles per hour, the friction of air slows Orion

以每小時二萬五千英里的速度進入地球的大氣層，與空氣的摩擦大幅減低了 Orion

considerably, while also subjecting it to temperatures of 5,000 degrees.

的速度，然而也還是致使機體承受 5,000 度的高溫。

With the Orion now at just 300 miles per hour, a series of parachutes uniquely tested and

現在 Orion 號只以時速 300 英哩前進，一系列經過特殊測試且精密製造的降落傘

produced for this moment deploy, decelerating the craft to just 20 miles per hour for splashdown.

在此時打開，將其減速至每小時 20 英里的速度準備降落。

With each successful mission, Artemis ushers in the next wave of men and women to explore

隨著每次任務的成功，阿提米斯敦促著新一波男男女女前往

our Moon.

我們的月球探索。

And proves that together, we're ready to go beyond.

並且證明我們其心一志，我們準備好面對更浩瀚的宇宙。