“天问一号”探测器火星捕获过程影像来了！

2月12日，举国欢庆农历新年之际，国家航天局发布我国首次火星探测任务“天问一号”探测器火星捕获过程影像。

The video fully recorded Mars gradually entering the field of view, the slight vibration of the probe after the engine was ignited, and the probe's flight from Mars day to Mars night. The solar wing, directional antenna, Martian atmosphere, and surface morphology are visible in the video.
影像完整记录了火星进出视野、发动机点火后探测器轻微震动和探测器从火星白天飞入黑夜的过程，太阳翼、定向天线、火星大气层及表面形貌清晰可见。

2021年2月10日19时52分，我国首次火星探测任务“天问一号”探测器实施近火捕获制动（braking near Mars），环绕器3000牛轨控发动机点火工作约15分钟，探测器顺利进入近火点高度约400千米，周期约10个地球日，倾角约10°的大椭圆环火轨道（enter an elliptical orbit around Mars），成为我国第一颗人造火星卫星，实现“绕、着、巡”目标的第一步，环绕火星成功。

国家航天局的专家介绍：

After entering orbit around Mars, Tianwen-1 will brake to adjust the orbital inclination of the flight at the apoareion, the highest point of the orbit around Mars.
“天问一号”进入到环火轨道，在远火点进行一次平面机动，调整飞行的轨道倾角。

Tianwen-1 will then brake at the periareion, the point in the orbit that is closest to Mars, and adjust its orbital period to ensure that the spacecraft's track passes the preset landing site.
当回到近火点时，它就要慢踩刹车，对轨道周期进行相应调整，以保证轨迹经过预定的着陆点。

When the Chinese probe reaches the periareion for the second time, it will brake again to perform an orbital maneuver and make sure the lander and rover of Tianwen-1 can complete the landing on Mars at the scheduled time and place.
当“天问一号”在停泊调相轨道上再次到达近火点时，需要再次刹车，进入停泊轨道，并在该轨道上进行多次调整，保证着陆器和巡视器在预先设定的时间、地点着陆火星。

It is expected to land on Mars in May or June. Chinese space engineers and scientists have chosen a relatively flat region in the southern part of the Utopia Planitia, a large plain, as the potential landing zone. A rover will be released after the landing to conduct scientific exploration.
“天问一号”计划于2021年5月至6月间择机实施火星着陆。我国航天科研人员已经在火星上的“乌托邦平原”南部选定了一块相对平坦的区域作为着陆点。着陆后，巡视器将开展科研探测。

【相关词汇】

行星探测任务 planetary exploration mission

探月工程 lunar exploration program

重型运载火箭 heavy-lift carrier rocket

在轨测试 in-orbit test

载人空间站 manned space station

助推火箭 booster rocket

发射中止系统 launch abort system

发射场 launch site

可重复使用运载火箭 reusable carrier rocket

参考来源：新华网

（中国日报网英语点津 Helen）