中國公布“嫦娥四號”月球車將探索月球背面

China’s moon lander and rover for the Chang’e-4 lunar probe, which is expected to land on the far side of the moon this year, was unveiled Wednesday.

中國“嫦娥四號”月球著陸器和巡視器周三亮相，預計將于今年登陸月球背面。

Images displayed at Wednesday’s press conference showed the rover was a rectangular box with two foldable solar panels and six wheels. It is 1.5 meters long, 1 meter wide and 1.1 meters high.

周三新聞發(fā)布會展示的照片顯示巡視器(月球車)長1.5米，寬1米，高1.1米;呈方形盒狀，配有6個輪子和2張可折疊的太陽能帆板。

Wu Weiren, the chief designer of China’s lunar probe program, said the Chang’e-4 rover largely kept the shape and conditions of its predecessor, Yutu (Jade Rabbit), China’s first lunar rover for the Chang’e-3 lunar probe in 2013.

中國探月計劃總設計師吳偉仁表示，“嫦娥四號”月球車大體保持了它的前任“玉兔號”的外形和條件。“玉兔號”是中國第一輛月球車，于2013年中國“嫦娥三號”探月計劃實施時登月。

However, it also has adaptable parts and an adjustable payload configuration to deal with the complex terrain on the far side of the moon, the demand of relay communication, and the actual needs of the scientific objectives, according to space scientists.

當然，據(jù)太空科學家表示，“嫦娥四號”月球車也配置了適應性較強的部件和可調(diào)節(jié)的有效載荷，就是為了適應月球背面復雜的環(huán)境，同時滿足中繼通信和實際科學研究目標的要求。

The Chang’e-4 lunar probe will land on the Aitken Basin of the lunar south pole region on the far side of the moon, which is a hot spot for scientific and space exploration.

“嫦娥四號”月球車將登陸月球背面南極地區(qū)的艾特肯盆地，這是科學和太空探索的熱點。

The global public will have a chance to name the rover, according to State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense.

據(jù)中國國家國防科技工業(yè)局表示，“嫦娥四號”月球車將面向全球公眾征集命名。

Participants can submit their proposed names for the rover through the internet from Aug. 15 to Sept. 5, and the official name will be announced in October after several selection rounds.

參與者可以在8月15日至9月5日之間通過網(wǎng)絡上傳他們建議的名稱。幾輪選拔過后，最終官方命名將于10月份公布。

Winners will be rewarded at most 3,000 yuan and invited to watch the lunar probe launch.

最終命名的提議者將獲得最高3000元獎金并被邀請觀看月球車的發(fā)射。

China launched a relay satellite in May to set up a communication link between the Earth and Chang’e-4 lunar probe.

中國5月份已發(fā)射了一顆中繼星以建立“嫦娥四號”月球車與地球的通信聯(lián)系。