美國航空航天局 6年以來的首次火星登陸任務已經安全完成。這個名為“洞察號”的火星探測器于美國東部時間11月26日下午3點之前剛剛在這個紅色星球上降落。

在著陸過程中，洞察號（InSight是“使用地震調查、測地學和熱傳輸來進行內部探測”的首字母縮寫）必須在6分鐘的時間內，借助降落傘和多個引擎，將速度從1.23萬英里/時降為零。由于電波傳輸的自然延遲，人們在7分鐘的時間內對探測器是否已經安全著陸一無所知，也讓那些幾乎在7年前就開始從事這個8.3億美元項目的工作人員著實緊張了一把。

如今，洞察號已在火星赤道北部的埃律西昂平原著陸，它將向地球發送其健康狀況報告，以及周邊環境圖片。它已經發回了第一張圖片，只是圖片上的內容算不上豐富。

我在火星上拍的第一張圖片！我的鏡頭蓋還沒有打開，但我還是迫不及待地向你們展示我對新家的第一印象。如需了解更多更新信息，請訪問https://t.co/tYcLE3tkkS #MarsLanding pic.twitter.com/G15bJjMYxa

——美國航空航天局洞察號（@NASAInSight）2018年11月26日

洞察號有著特殊的任務：它將成為第一個探測火星內部構造的探測器。

洞察號將利用能夠鉆探5米深的“鼴鼠”鉆頭，測量火星內部溫度。其結果將有助于科學家確認火星的構成成分，看看它是否與地球的構成相同。此外，它還將進一步揭示火星的進化過程。

洞察號還搭載了可測量輕微震動的地震儀，它將提供有關火星內部構造的更多信息，從而幫助科學家確認地表之下是否存在水或火山。

最終，洞察號將使用無線電傳輸來跟蹤火星游離不定的自轉軸。其結果將為科學家提供更多有關火星內核的信息。科學家已經知道火星內核含有大量的鐵，但其中也有可能存在液體和其他元素。

所有這一切都將幫助科學家更好地了解行星的形成過程。

洞察號的首席科學家布魯斯·巴蘭特向BBC透露：“我們認為，行星如何進化的一些小細節造成了行星之間的差別：例如在地球上，人們可以度假，享受日光浴；在金星上，人們在數秒之內便會被燒的體無完膚；但在火星上，人們則會被凍死。”

《時代》周刊稱，洞察號將把數據源源不斷地傳回地球，而且至少持續兩年的時間。（財富中文網）

譯者：馮豐

審校：夏林

NASA’s first mission to Mars in six years has landed safely. The probe, titled InSight, touched down on the Red Planet just before 3 pm EST.

The landing required InSight (which stands for “Interior exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport”) to decelerate from 12,300 mph to zero in six minutes, with the help of a parachute and a number of engines. Due to a natural delay in radio transmissions, no one knew if the probe landed safely for seven minutes—a tense wait for those who have worked on the $830 million-project since its beginning roughly seven years ago.

Now that it’s landed on Elysium Planitia, a plain north of Mars’ equator, InSight will send a health report and a picture of its surroundings. It’s already sent its first photo, although it’s not much to see.

My first picture on #Mars! My lens cover isn’t off yet, but I just had to show you a first look at my new home. More status updates:https://t.co/tYcLE3tkkS #MarsLanding pic.twitter.com/G15bJjMYxa

— NASAInSight (@NASAInSight) November 26, 2018

InSight’s mission is unique: It’ll be the first probe to explore the interior of Mars.

Using a “mole” capable of drilling 5 meters below the surface, InSight will be able to take the planet’s internal temperature. This will help scientists determine what Mars is made of—whether it’s the same material as Earth or not. Additionally, it’ll give further insights into how the planet evolved.

InSight is also equipped with seismometers to measure minor vibrations that will give more information on the planet’s internal structure, helping scientists determine whether there’s water or volcanoes below.

Finally, InSight will use radio transmissions to track how Mars wobbles on its axis. This will give scientists more data on Mars’ core. They know it’s rich in iron, but there may also be liquid and other elements.

All of this will help scientists better understand how planets form.

“The small details in how planets evolve are what we think make the difference between a place like Earth where you can go on vacation and get a tan, and a place like Venus where you’ll burn in seconds or a place like Mars where you’ll freeze to death,” InSight chief scientist Bruce Banerdt told BBC.

According to TIME, InSight is expected to send data back home for at least two years.