http://1-apple.com.tw/index.cfm?Fuseaction=Article&Sec_ID=3&ShowDate=20080711&IssueID=20080711&art_id=30741463&NewsType=1&SubSec=11
新發現 月球表面曾有水
2008年07月11日蘋果日報

美國
【蔡筱雯╱綜合外電報導】自從1969年美國太空人登月後，科學家認定月球只是一片荒蕪，但是最新一期《自然》期刊報導，學者採用新儀器分析月球樣本，發現月球表面曾有大量水分，「寧靜海」的浪漫地名可能並非幻想。

缺大氣層水分流失
過去的理論指出，一個火星大小的星體在45億年前與地球相撞，把地球表面的熔岩碎片撞進了地球軌道，這些碎片結合在一起形成月球，因此美國學者薩爾跟郝瑞認為，月球形成初期應該曾有不少水分，跟地球表層差不多，他們好不容易說服美國航太總署，取得一批40年前從月球表面採回來的岩石樣本。

學者用先進的「二次離子質譜術」，把這些像玻璃珠的樣本打碎，分析其原子分布，結果發現當中有氫，推測應是月球表面岩漿噴發時，蒸發水分形成這些玻璃珠，因月球表面缺乏大氣層，約有95%的水分都已流失，但學者猜測在月球寒冷的兩極，或月球陰暗面的隕石坑，可能仍埋藏有碎冰，不過這些都要等到今年底或明年，美國再度派出無人探測器前往月球採樣，才能得到確認。

http://news.yam.com/afp/life/200807/20080710485477.html
新研究提出新希望 月之海或許真的存在
法新社╱何世煌 2008-07-10 09:35     
 
 
（法新社巴黎九日電）古代天文學家曾經認為月亮如同孕育萬物的地球一樣，表面有水覆蓋，並給了月球的「海」浪漫的名字。

太空世紀當然揭開這些海洋，或者說月球的陰暗區是荒蕪、乾透的玄武岩平原，自此以後，月球就一直被認為是缺乏孕育生命的不毛之地。

明天出刊的英國週刊「自然」將刊登這篇研究，內容提出證據，月球形成初期，水曾經是它的一部分。

這篇研究強化月球極地可能存在水的揣測。

主要理論是，月球是四十五億年前一個火星大小的星體撞擊嬰兒期地球時所形成的，它將熔岩碎片炸進地球軌道，碎片在太空結合冷卻變成地球的衛星。

這次撞擊之猛烈，原本可能讓月球上剛剛形成的輕元素瞬間蒸發，其中包括含水元素。

先前檢查歷次阿波羅太空任務帶回來的光滑、卵石般的小珠，並未發現水，這和「月球無水」的假設相符，但再仔細檢查，有了意外的發現。

羅德島布朗大學地質學家薩爾領導的團隊，使用比之前的版本敏感十倍的加強版二次離子質譜儀。

卡內基科學研究所的郝瑞說，他們在這些卵石上發現微量但有趣的水濃縮物，「達到46PPM（百萬分之一）」。

這支研究團隊認為，這證明月球上的火山噴發之前，內部一定存在更多的水。

根據他們的計算，月球內岩漿未噴發前含有的水分可能達到750PPM，類似噴發至地球海床中洋脊的遠古岩漿內的水含量。

因為缺乏大氣層，月球岩漿噴發到表面並冷卻時，月球喪失幾乎所有水分。

揮發的水分多達九成五逸散到太空，並永遠消失。

但是根據這項理論，其餘的水可能流向月球極地方，以冰的形式藏在深深地、永遠留在月球陰暗面的隕石坑底下。

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080709/sc_afp/sciencespacemoonwater_080709182221;_ylt=AjrUuWoTn63.9IM57oIcJIHPOrgF
Water on the Moon? New research boosts hopes

Wed Jul 9, 2:22 PM ET

PARIS (AFP) - The ancient astronomers once deemed the Moon, like Mother Earth, to be awash with water and gave fanciful names to its "seas."

The space age, of course, revealed these oceans, or Mare, to be desolate, bone-dry basalt plains -- and ever since, the Moon has been saddled with the reputation as a hostile place forever lacking a key ingredient for life.

But this image may need a makeover, if some of the hopes sketched in a new scientific study turn out to be true.

Published on Thursday in the British weekly journal Nature, the paper puts forward evidence that water has been a part of the Moon since its early existence.

And it strengthens speculation that the precious stuff may be found at the lunar poles.

A leading theory is that the Moon was created when a Mars-sized object whacked into the infant Earth, some 4.5 billion years ago, sending molten debris into orbit that coalesced and cooled to form our planet's satellite.

The violence of this collision would have vaporised the proto-Moon's light elements, including those for water, in a flash.

But a close examination of glassy, pebble-like beads brought back by the Apollo missions has revealed a surprise.

Previous examination of these rocks -- the result of a volcanic outpouring some 3.5 billion years ago -- had found no signs of water, a finding consistent with the "waterless Moon" scenario.

Geologists led by Alberto Saal at Brown University, Rhode Island, have taken a new look, this time using a souped-up version of a method called secondary mass ion spectrometry 10 times more sensitive than previous versions.

They found minute but intriguing concentrations of water in the pebbles, "up to 46 parts per million [ppm]," said Erik Hauri of the Carnegie Institution for Science.

The team say that this water is a trace of far larger concentrations that must have existed in the Moon's interior before the fire fountains swept into action.

According to their calculation, the Moon's pre-eruption magna may have contained up to 750 ppm, similar to the water content of primitive magma that once erupted on the mid-ocean ridges on Earth's sea floor.

Lacking an atmosphere, the Moon lost almost all of this water when the molten rock spewed onto the surface and cooled.

As much as 95 percent of the vapor drifted out to space and was lost forever.

But -- so goes the theory -- the rest may have drifted towards the cold poles of the Moon, where it may remain as ice in deep, permanently shadowed craters.

The notion of ice at the lunar poles was once dismissed as fanciful, but it has gained credibility in recent years, backed by data sent back in 1994 by a US orbiter, Clementine.

Seeking to find out more, NASA is to send a scout, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, with a launch date of no earlier than November 24 this year, followed by another craft, the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, in 2009.

Finding water would be a boon, and not just for the tantalising perspective that it would open into Moon's past.

It could conceivably be tapped for a manned outpost, thus drastically cutting the cost of a permanent return to the Moon.

http://1-apple.com.tw/index.cfm?Fuseaction=Article&Sec_ID=3&ShowDate=20080627&IssueID=20080627&art_id=30695496&NewsType=1&SubSec=11
返月球 戰神5火箭更夠力新加引擎 38層樓高 美航太總署估2020年升空
2008年06月27日蘋果日報

【張翠蘭╱綜合外電報導】美國重返月球計劃又有新進展，航太總署(National Aeronautics and Space Administration，簡稱NASA)前天公布登月火箭「戰神五號」(Ares V)加強版更新設計，總長度增為116公尺，約莫38層樓高，並新增一具主要引擎及加大推進器。新設計讓火箭載重量增加7000公斤。NASA也表示，最新評估結果顯示，2020年太空人將可重返月球。

美國
NASA戰神計劃辦公室經理庫克表示，戰神五號火箭加長6公尺後，總長度為116公尺。火箭底座原有5具引擎，也增至6具，工程師決定加大兩具固態火箭推進器，讓火箭攜帶更多燃料，載運更多補給物資。庫克指出，新版設計將使戰神五號能送4名太空人及逾7萬1000公斤貨物至月球。

火星發現大撞擊坑
戰神五號是「星座計劃」(Constellation Program)的一部分，此計劃將建造一系列太空梭、火箭等，以利國際太空站補給、重返月球及登陸火星等太空任務。2020年登月計劃分兩階段升空，太空人乘坐太空艙，由戰神一號火箭搭載升空後，在地球軌道與戰神五號火箭搭載的物資、登陸器及推進節接合，再飛往月球。
另外，《自然》期刊昨報導，科學家指出，火星南北半球地形迥異，南半球山巒起伏，北半球多平原和低窪地帶，且有一個寬8500公里、長1萬600公里的巨大凹坑，相當於亞洲、歐洲及澳洲面積總和，極可能是40億年前遭小行星或彗星撞擊所致，是人類迄今在太陽系測量到的最大撞擊坑。

飛向太空
美國NASA前天公布登月火箭「戰神五號」新設計，約38層樓高，能提高載重量，效能更強。

會合返月
「戰神五號」火箭搭載的推進節，將與太空人乘坐的太空艙接合後，飛向月球。

NASA 2020年人類重返月球計劃
◎預計時間：2020年，將是自1972年以來人類首度重返月球
◎初期目標：在月球興建永久基地，作為未來遠征火星及其他星球跳板
◎兩階段升空：
．「戰神五號」火箭搭載物資、月球登陸器及推進節，發射升空
．數天後，「戰神一號」火箭搭載太空人所乘的「獵戶座」太空艙，發射升空
．「獵戶座」太空艙在地球軌道，與月球登陸器及推進節接合，然後飛向月球，登陸探勘
資料來源：綜合外電

http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2008/new/apr/20/today-int2.htm
自由時報2008年4月20日

NASA擬建月球基地 讓太空人Long Stay
〔編譯魏國金／法新社邁阿密十八日電〕美國航空暨太空總署（ＮＡＳＡ）先進技術部主任華茲十八日指出，ＮＡＳＡ有意在月球打造能讓太空人待上半年的基地以及精密複雜的運輸與電力系統。

他表示，ＮＡＳＡ目前正在審查數件月球前哨基地的設計圖，而環繞地球軌道運行的國際太空站（ＩＳＳ）或能啟發這些設計。曾擔任太空人的華茲說︰「我們需要延長在月球停留的時間，大概達半年—與我們待在ＩＳＳ的時間一樣。」

他指出︰「我預期將建構一些類似我們為ＩＳＳ所打造的裝置。」

ＩＳＳ包含一組來自美、俄、歐洲與日本等的實驗室，這些實驗室讓科學家得以研究極微重力對人類與植物的影響。

ＮＡＳＡ計畫在二○一○年完成月球前哨基地的建構，屆時美國將以新的太空載具取代目前三艘太空梭，新載具將可載人上月球甚至最終到達火星。

美國也計畫在二○二○年前重返月球，並在月球上建立永久基地。

華茲指出，ＮＡＳＡ必須設計月球表面的運輸、通信與電力系統，並讓太空人能夠離開基地，進行科學研究。他說︰「我們將在月球居住、工作，在月球建立基地並運用它的資源。」

http://news.yam.com/afp/life/200804/20080419054509.html
月亮上的Long Stay 太空人未來長住月球半年
法新社╱盧瑞珠 2008-04-19 10:50    

 
（法新社邁阿密十八日電）美國航空暨太空總署（NASA）希望將來登陸月球的太空人，能在上面待得久一點。

NASA先進技術部主任華茲表示，他們希望能在月球上建立基地，提供精密的交通工具和電力系統，讓太空人長住六個月。

他表示，NASA正在審核不同的月球前哨站設計圖。而這些設計可以從環繞地球軌道運行的國際太空站得到啟發，

這位資深太空人在邁阿密大學一場有關NASA未來發展論壇中提到：「我們需要在月球上擁有更長的停留時間，甚至達到六個月，就如同我們待在國際太空站的時間一樣。」

「我預測我們會打造類似於目前為國際太空站所作的設計，但有些地方可能會不一樣。」

國際太空站雖然可以讓很多科學家停留，但通常都保持在三人左右。這些太空人搭乘NASA的太空梭出任務，到太空中進行軌道實驗。

美國太空官員計畫在二零二零年前重新回到月球，並在月球表面建立永久觀測站。

華茲表示，他們還需要設計月球表面專用的交通、通訊和電力系統，同時能允許太空人離開基地，進行各項科學研究。

他說：「我們將生活在月球上，在上面工作、建立基地，同時使用它的資源。

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080418/sc_afp/usspacemoon_080418205445;_ylt=Al9h.fRpCc0jv.G6dklWC27POrgF
NASA official envisions six-month stays on the moon

Fri Apr 18, 4:54 PM ET

MIAMI (AFP) - NASA wants astronauts who will return to the moon to take one long step for mankind.

The US space agency hopes to build moon bases that can house astronauts for stays of up to six months, with an intricate transportation and power system, Carl Walz, director of NASA's Advanced Capabilities Division, said Friday.

NASA is examining different designs for lunar outposts but that they could be inspired by the orbiting International Space Station (ISS), he said.

"We need to establish a long, extended presence on the moon, up to six months -- same as the time we spend at ISS," Walz, a veteran astronaut, told AFP during a forum on the future of NASA at the University of Miami.

"I would anticipate that we would build something similar as what we are building for the ISS, but maybe something different," he said.

The station usually houses three scientists, although it can accommodate more when astronauts arrive aboard NASA's space shuttle on missions to expand the orbiting laboratory.

The orbiting ISS contains a complex set of laboratories from the United States, Russia, Europe and Japan that allow scientists to study the effects of very low gravity on humans and plants.

NASA plans to finish construction of the orbiting outpost in 2010, when it is scheduled to retire its three shuttles and replace them with a new spacecraft capable to taking humans to the moon and eventually to Mars.

US space officials plan to return to the moon by 2020 and build permanent outposts on the surface of Earth's natural satellite.

The space agency will also need to design transportation, communication and power systems for the lunar surface as well as give the astronauts the ability to venture out of their bases for scientific research, Walz said.

"We will live at the moon, work at the moon, do sites at the moon and use its resources," he said.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/exploration/mmb/moon-20080227.html
NASA Views Landing Site Through Eyes of Future Moon Crew

02.27.08

NASA has obtained the highest resolution terrain mapping to date of the moon's rugged south polar region, with a resolution to 20 meters per pixel. Scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., collected the data using the facility's Goldstone Solar System Radar located in California's Mojave Desert. The imagery generated by the data has been incorporated into animation depicting the descent to the lunar surface of a future human lunar lander and a flyover of Shackleton Crater.

The mapping data collected indicate that the region of the moon's south pole near Shackleton Crater is much more rugged than previously understood. The Shackleton rim area is considered a candidate landing site for a future human mission to the moon.

"The south pole of the moon certainly would be a beautiful place to explore," said Doug Cooke, deputy associate administrator for the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters, Washington. "We now know the south pole has peaks as high as Mt. McKinley and crater floors four times deeper than the Grand Canyon. There are challenges that come with such rugged terrain, and these data will be an invaluable tool for advance planning of lunar missions."

Three times during a six-month period in 2006, scientists targeted the moon's south polar region using Goldstone's 70-meter radar dish. The antenna, three-quarters the size of a football field, sent a 500-kilowatt strong, 90-minute long radar stream 231,800 miles to the moon. The radar bounced off the rough-hewn lunar terrain over an area measuring about 400 miles by 250 miles. Signals were reflected back to two of Goldstone's 34-meter antennas on Earth. The roundtrip time, from the antenna to the moon and back, was about two-and-a-half seconds.

"I have not been to the moon, but this imagery is the next best thing," said Scott Hensley, a scientist at JPL and lead investigator for the study. "With these data we can see terrain features as small as a house without even leaving the office."

Previously, the best resolution of the moon's south pole was generated by the Clementine spacecraft, which could resolve lunar terrain features near the south pole at 1 kilometer per pixel. The new resolution generated by JPL is 50 times more detailed.

NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter will provide the next generation of lunar imaging and data. The spacecraft is scheduled to launch in late 2008. The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera will retrieve high resolution images of the moon's surface and lunar poles with resolutions to 1 meter. These images will provide knowledge of polar illumination conditions, identify potential resources and hazards, and enable safe landing site selection. Other instruments aboard the orbiter will return data such as temperature maps, ultraviolet images, characterization of radiation on the moon and a high resolution 3-D map. NASA's quest for up-to-date imagery of the moon also will benefit from international missions such as Japan's Selene robotic probe.

http://news.yam.com/afp/life/200802/20080229555684.html
美國航太總署製作月球南極地區精密地圖
法新社╱曹宇帆 2008-02-29 20:20    

 
（法新社華盛頓二十九日電）美國國家航空暨太空總署官員今天表示，美國太空科學家已製作一幅高精密度的月球南極區域地圖，這幅地圖顯示該區域的地形較科學家原先認為的還要崎嶇不平。

位在加州巴沙迪納的航太總署噴射推進實驗室研究員說，在規劃往後的月球探測，高解析度影像可能會極為寶貴。

領導這項研究的噴射推進實驗室科學家韓斯萊表示，「我從未去過月球，但這影像已是親歷其境外最美好的事」。

他說，「有了這些資料，我們甚至不用離開辦公室，也能看到小如房子大的地形特徵」。

這幅地圖涵蓋著名沙克爾頓隕石坑（Shackleton Crater）附近的地形影像。航太總署已將這個隕石坑列為可以做為未來有人駐守的月球基地。

位在華盛頓航太總署總部的探索宇宙任務執行委員會代理副主席庫克表示，「月球的南極一定是個值得探索的美麗地方」。

航太總署說，截至目前為止，月球南極的最佳解析度影像是由克萊門泰號太空船所傳回，解析度為每公里一畫素。由噴射推進實驗室產生的新影像，精細度提高五十倍。

庫克表示，「我們現在知道，月球南極有山峰高如美國最高的麥金萊山，並有底部比大峽谷深四倍的隕石坑」。

他又說，「將有伴著崎嶇地形而來的挑戰，這些資料對於預先規劃月球任務，將是一項非常寶貴的工具」。

科學家希望在今年底航太總署的月球勘查軌道號太空船（Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter）發射後，能獲得更精密的影像。

他們表示，月球勘查軌道號的攝影機，將傳回月球表面以及兩極的高解析度影像，解析度可達到一公尺。

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080228/sc_afp/usspacemoonnasa_080228200439
NASA creates detailed map of moon's southern terrain

Thu Feb 28, 3:04 PM ET

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US space scientists have created a highly-detailed map of the moon's south pole region, revealing a much more rugged terrain than scientists had believed, NASA officials said Wednesday.

The high-resolution images are likely to prove invaluable in planning future lunar exploration, researchers at the US space agency's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California said.

"I have not been to the moon, but this imagery is the next best thing," said Scott Hensley, a scientist at JPL and lead investigator for the research.

"With these data we can see terrain features as small as a house without even leaving the office."

The images of the moon's south pole include a detailed look at the site near the famed Shackleton Crater, which NASA has identified as a potential candidate for a future manned moon base.

"The south pole of the moon certainly would be a beautiful place to explore," said Doug Cooke, deputy associate administrator for the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters, Washington.

Until now, the best resolution of the moon's south pole was generated by the Clementine spacecraft, whose images showed lunar terrain features near the south pole at one kilometer per pixel. The new images generated by JPL are 50 times more detailed, NASA said.

"We now know the south pole has peaks as high as Mount McKinley (the United States' highest mountain peak) and crater floors four times deeper than the Grand Canyon," Cooke said.

He added: "There are challenges that come with such rugged terrain, and these data will be an invaluable tool for advance planning of lunar missions."

Scientists hope to have access to even more detailed imagery after the launch of NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter in late 2008.

Space officials said the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter's camera will retrieve high resolution images of the moon's surface and lunar poles with resolutions to one meter.

http://news.yam.com/afp/life/200712/20071211049006.html
太空總署：2020年月球建前哨站 通火星跳板
法新社╱紀錦玲 2007-12-11 14:05     

 
（法新社華盛頓十日電）美國官員今天表示，雖然經費還沒著落，不過，美國國家航空暨太空總署正朝著重返月球的目標邁進，預定二零二零年前人類再登月球，並且在月球上設置前哨站，作為通往火星的跳板。

太空總署一年前曾經宣布具有遠大企圖的計畫，將在月球南極上建立太陽能發電、有人駐守的前哨站。一年後的今天，太空總署官員吉布瑞契在華府告訴記者說，「我們的工作是：要在月球上建立城鎮，最終在火星上留下太空船的輪胎痕跡。」

太空總署「星座計畫」主管韓利表示，「我們已經有國際太空站了，也將建立月球前哨站，當然，總有一天，人類會登上火星。」星座計畫主要負責發展人類登陸月球的交通工具。

目前任職太空總署探險系統任務理事會的太空飛行老兵華茲表示，「三十五年前的這一週，太空人塞南、艾萬斯與施密特正站在月球上。我們目前正努力工作，希望將未來一代的太空人再度送上月球」。

吉布瑞契表示，雖然預算限制，但太空總署希望星座任務能夠在二零一六年以前全面運作。

他說，「我們希望國會能夠通過預算。」他指出，支持總署的太空計畫，花費納稅人的錢並不多，在每一美元的納稅錢中，只有零點六美分是花在太空計畫上。

「這項預算案能夠實現總統的願景─在二零二零年，人類再登月球。」

人類登陸月球任務已睽違數十年久，布希總統於二零零四年宣布重返月球新計畫。

韓利表示，「我們將分階段執行重返月球計畫。」

他說，第一階段有關於建構完成國際太空站後，太空梭將在二零一零年除役。

「接下來重點是，建造新的太空梭，也即新星座計畫的獵戶號與阿瑞士號。」

韓利指出，「我們已經有了基礎開始，很快地，就可以有大系統興建工程，包括建造阿瑞士V型火箭、月球登陸船，以及在月球地表興建工作站系統。」他再度強調，太空總署目前正面臨預算的困境。

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071211/sc_afp/usspacemoon_071211002619
NASA on target for return to the moon by 2020: officials

Mon Dec 10, 7:26 PM ET

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Despite funding uncertainty, NASA is on track to return humans to the moon by 2020 and set up a lunar outpost to serve as a springboard to explore Mars, officials said Monday.

"Our job is to build towns on the moon and eventually put tire prints on Mars," NASA's Rick Gilbrech told reporters here, one year after the US space agency unveiled an ambitious plan to site a solar-powered, manned outpost on the south pole of the moon.

"We have the International Space Station; we're going to have a lunar outpost, and someday, certainly, somebody will go to Mars," said Jeff Hanley, head of NASA's Constellation program, which is developing the tools to return humans to the moon.

"Thirty-five years ago this week, Gene Cernan, Ron Evans and Jack Schmitt were on the surface of the moon. We are working hard to return a future generation of astronauts to the moon," said space flight veteran Carl Walz, who now works for NASA's exploration systems mission directorate.

Despite budgetary constraints, NASA hoped to have Constellation fully operational by 2016, Gilbrech said.

"We're hoping we get a budget passed by Congress," he said, pointing out that only six-tenths of a penny of every tax dollar went to funding NASA's space programs.

"We're making plans to be ready for any and all scenarios. The (budget proposal) we put in keeps our program on track for the March 2015 initial operating capability... and full operating capability a year later," Gilbrech, who leads new spacecraft development at NASA, said.

"That will enable the human-moon return by the 2020 date that the president envisioned."

President George W. Bush in 2004 announced a plan to resume human flights to the moon after a decades-long gap.

"We're doing this effort to get back to the moon in phases," said Hanley.

He recalled that the first phase involved retiring NASA's space shuttle in 2010 after completing construction of the International Space Station.

Following that, attention will be focused on building the shuttle's successor, the Orion crew vehicle and Ares launcher of the new Constellation program, he said.

"Very soon, and we have already begun at a low level, we will ramp up rapidly to build the big systems which are the Ares V rocket and the lunar lander and the surface systems that will be put in place on the moon," Hanley said, again stressing budgetary constraints faced by NASA.

"We will begin that build-up after 2010 because that's how our budget is put together. We're going as we can pay, so to speak. This is a long-range strategy we're rolling out over the next two decades and more," he said.

"It will be a challenge, a challenge to do it on budgets the Apollo missions didn't have to deal with, and to get people interested and keep them interested," he said.

"In May 1961, then US president John F. Kennedy proposal to send astronauts to the moon before the end of the decade launched the Apollo era."

The pioneering program achieved its goal eight years later, on July 20, 1969, when Apollo 11 commander Neil Armstrong became the first man to set foot on the moon.

The December 1972 flight of Apollo 17, with Cernan, Evans and Schmitt on board, was the last manned mission to the moon for the United States.

http://news.yam.com/afp/entertain/200712/20071207035792.html
Google月球探險競賽 第一組參賽隊伍誕生
法新社╱張仲琬 2007-12-07 11:35  

 
（法新社加州聖荷西六日電）來自英國附屬地曼島的參賽隊伍「奧德賽月球」，今天成為第一組公開宣布和登記將參加Google月球探險機器大賽的隊伍，他們摩拳擦掌準備奪取三千萬美元獎金。

搜尋引擎巨擘Google九月宣佈這個獎項，邀請民間企業參與「再次征服月球」的比賽，開啟新一波「月球2.0」私人和企業月球探險時代。

奧德賽月球隊長，國際海事衛星組織（Inmarsat）創辦人哈德在加州聖荷西太空投資高峰會公開宣布後告訴法新社：「大家迄今都沒有真正地思考過月球所代表的潛力。」

他說：「月球是第八大陸，需要以負責方式去探索。我們想要贏得Google大獎，如果我們真的獲獎，這筆獎金就是意外之財，但我們無論如何都要去月球。」

Google與X Prize基金會共同提供這個大獎。X Prize基金會專門提倡民間的太空探險活動。

三千萬美元大獎的有效期限為二零一二年，過了這個期限獎金將減少為兩千五百萬。如果到了二零一四年仍然沒有隊伍獲勝，主辦單位將會收回獎金。

奧德賽月球隊是第一組繳交一萬美元註冊費並具備參賽資格的隊伍。