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第0112期(2014/11/20出刊)

人類首次登陸彗星　歐洲探測船　盼解開天體之謎

　For the first time in history, a spacecraft has landed on a comet. In 2004, the European Space Agency launched Rosetta, an unmanned space probe. Ten years later, and after a tense sevenhour descent on November 12, the robotic lander Philae successfully landed on comet 67P/ Churyumov-Gerasimenko.

　Mission controllers in Germany clapped and embraced as the landing was confirmed. They hope the probe will collect data that can help explain the origins of comets and other celestial bodies.

　Rosetta and Philae will accompany the 3.2- km wide comet as it races past the sun and becomes increasingly active in the rising temperatures. Between them, they will use 21 different instruments to take 3D images, analyze the comet's chemical composition and electrical properties, and even probe its internal structure with low-frequency radio signals.

　一艘太空船成功的登陸彗星，這是人類史上頭一遭。二○○四年，歐洲太空總署發射了無人駕駛探測船羅賽塔號。十年之後，經過七小時讓人緊張的自由降落，它所搭載的無人登陸器菲萊號，在十一月十二日成功的登陸彗星67P ╱楚留莫夫－格拉希門克。

　當菲萊號成功登陸的消息獲得證實後，在德國的地面指揮中心人員鼓掌叫好、互相擁抱。他們希望探測器蒐集的資料有助於解釋彗星以及其他天體的起源。

　羅賽塔與菲萊將陪伴這顆寬達三點二公里的彗星繞著太陽飛行，看彗星在逐漸上升的溫度中變得越來越活躍。在太陽和彗星之間，它們將使用二十一種不同的設備取得3D 影像，分析彗星的化學組成、電性能，甚至以低頻無線訊號來探測慧星的內部結構。

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