"俄國探測火星的衛星"

自從蘇聯時期首次行星間的任務，俄羅斯已耗資美金1.7億發射探測器到Phobos，繞行火星的兩顆衛星之一，以蒐集土壤樣本然後帶回地球。

該船艦，名為Phobos-Grunt（此乃俄文，翻譯為「福布斯－土壤」），是有史以來發射至太空裡最重的探測器，重達13.2公噸，而它大部分的重量來自燃料，用以抵達Phobos以及返回。Phobos-Grunt任務的目的是蒐集土壤樣本供科學家分析，以及看看他們是否能夠確定Phobos確實是一顆受到火星的萬有引力而繞其運行的小行星，或者它可能是火星與其他東西碰撞崩離而來的碎片。

Phobos-Grunt已經遇到許多問題，且仍持續增加。最新的問題是其中一枚引擎點火失敗，且無法發送Phobos-Grunt至遙遠衛星的正確方向。探測器目前停滯於地球軌道上，科學家和工程師有三天時間檢查探測器系統，並且重新發送到它的目的地。俄羅斯近十幾年來有過其他幾次失敗的太空任務，這次中國已經同意自己的人造衛星協助搭載Phobo-Grunt，一旦抵達Phobos將被釋放進入運行軌道。

(Science) Russia Sends Probe To Mars' Moon

In their first interplanetary mission since the time of the Soviet Union, Russia has spent USD$170 million to launch a probe to Phobos, one of the two moons orbiting Mars, to collect soil samples and then return with them to Earth.

The craft, called the Phobos-Grunt (translated from Russian, means Phobos-Soil) is the heaviest probe ever sent into space, weighing 13.2 metric tons, though most of its weight is from the fuel needed to reach Phobos and then return. The purpose of the Phobos-Grunt's mission is to collect soil samples for scientists to analyze and see if they can determine if Phobos is actually an asteroid that was caught in Mars' gravitational orbit, or if it may be debris left over from Mars colliding with something else.

The Phobos-Grunt has been, and continues to, face numerous problems. The most recent being the failure of one of the engines to fire and send the Phobos-Grunt on its course to the far moon.The probe is currently in Earth's orbit, and scientists and engineers have three days to check the probe's systems and resend it on its mission.Russia has had other failed space missions in the last couple decades, and this time around, China has agreed to assist with its own satellite traveling with the Phobos-Grunt, to be released into orbit once it arrives at Phobos.

想聽語音請上FunDay