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.
中国“嫦娥四号”月球着陆器和巡视器周三亮相,预计将于今年登陆月球背面。
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.
周三新闻发布会展示的照片显示巡视器(月球车)长1.5米,宽1米,高1.1米;呈方形盒状,配有6个轮子和2张可折叠的太阳能帆板。
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.
中国探月计划总设计师吴伟仁表示,“嫦娥四号”月球车大体保持了它的前任“玉兔号”的外形和条件。“玉兔号”是中国第一辆月球车,于2013年中国“嫦娥三号”探月计划实施时登月。
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.
当然,据太空科学家表示,“嫦娥四号”月球车也配置了适应性较强的部件和可调节的有效载荷,就是为了适应月球背面复杂的环境,同时满足中继通信和实际科学研究目标的要求。
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.
“嫦娥四号”月球车将登陆月球背面南极地区的艾特肯盆地,这是科学和太空探索的热点。
The global public will have a chance to name the rover, according to State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense.
据中国国家国防科技工业局表示,“嫦娥四号”月球车将面向全球公众征集命名。
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.
参与者可以在8月15日至9月5日之间通过网络上传他们建议的名称。几轮选拔过后,最终官方命名将于10月份公布。
Winners will be rewarded at most 3,000 yuan and invited to watch the lunar probe launch.
最终命名的提议者将获得最高3000元奖金并被邀请观看月球车的发射。
China launched a relay satellite in May to set up a communication link between the Earth and Chang’e-4 lunar probe.
中国5月份已发射了一颗中继星以建立“嫦娥四号”月球车与地球的通信联系。