The moon, Mars, asteroids and Jupiter: China reveals ambitious space exploration plans
中国公布其雄心勃勃的太空探索计划：月球、火星、小行星和木星
MILAN — After collecting the first-ever samples from the far side of the moon, China is now setting its sights on even more distant destinations — Mars, asteroids and Jupiter, positioning itself as a key player in space exploration for the coming decade.
米兰——中国在从月球背面收集了第一批样本后，现在将目光投向了更遥远的目的地——火星、小行星和木星，将自己定位为未来十年太空探索的关键参与者。
The country's plans span the moon, near-Earth asteroids, comets, obtaining the first-ever samples from Mars and a mission to the Jupiter system in the next few years, according to top Chinese space officials.
据中国高级航天官员称，中国的太空探索计划涵盖月球、近地小行星、彗星，首次从火星获取样本以及在未来几年内对木星系统进行探测。
The first look at the Chang'e 6 lunar far side samples — delivered to Earth in June— reveals these are lighter in color and lower in density than samples collected from the near side by Chang'e 5 in 2020, among other differences, according to Guan Feng, director of the Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering Center (LESEC) at CNSA, speaking during a session at the 2024 International Astronautical Congress here on Tuesday (Oct. 15).
中国国家航天局（CNSA）月球探测与空间工程中心（LESEC）主任关峰周二（10月15日）在2024年国际宇航大会上发表讲话时表示，对嫦娥六号六月份带回来的月球背面样本的首次观察显示，这些样本比2020年嫦娥五号从近侧收集的样本颜色更浅，密度更低，以及其他差异。
These differences provide critical insights into the moon's geologic history and offer clues about the far side's unique characteristics, potentially informing future lunar exploration. But while detailed research and analysis of the new samples is just getting underway, China is already preparing a return to the moon and visits to interplanetary destinations.
这些差异为月球的地质历史提供了重要见解，并揭示了月球背面的独特特征，这极有可能为未来的月球探索提供线索。不过，虽然对本次新样本的详细研究和分析才刚刚开始，但中国已经在准备重返月球和访问行星际目的地。
Related: China's Chang'e 6 mission carried a stone flag to the moon's far side
相关：中国嫦娥六号携带一面石旗前往月球背面
Li Guoping, CNSA's chief engineer, stated that next year China is on target to launch the Tianwen 2 mission to sample the near-Earth asteroid Kamo'oalewa. The spacecraft will deliver samples to Earth and then head off on an extended journey to study a main-belt comet.
CNSA总工程师李国平表示，中国明年预计发射天问二号，对近地小行星Kamo’oalewa进行采样。天问二号将向地球运送样本，并在接下来的很长时间里研究一颗主带彗星。
China's next two lunar missions will follow in 2026 and 2028, Li said. These will be Chang'e 7 and Chang'e 8, respectively. Both will attempt to land near the lunar south pole. The first will hunt for water ice in permanently shadowed craters, while the second will carry in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) and terrestrial ecosystem experiments.
李说，中国接下来的两次登月任务——嫦娥七号和嫦娥八号，将分别于2026年和2028年进行，并将试图在月球南极附近着陆。嫦娥七号将在永久阴影陨石坑中寻找水冰，而嫦娥八号将进行原位资源利用（ISRU）和陆地生态系统实验。
The pair will be precursors to an International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), to be constructed with input from partners in the 2030s. China is actively seeking partners for the venture and has so far attracted more than 10 countries to its cause.
这两个项目将成为国际月球研究站（ILRS）的前身，该站计划于2030年与合作伙伴共同建设。中国目前正在积极寻找合作伙伴，迄今已吸引了10多个国家加入该项目。
China is also preparing to take its lunar-sampling capabilities to the Red Planet. CNSA is gearing up for an audacious bid to collect material from Mars using a two-launch architecture. Named Tianwen 3, the mission will see separate service and reentry module and Mars landing and ascent spacecraft stacks launch in 2028, aiming to deliver samples to Earth around 2031. The main aim is seeking evidence of past or present Mars life, according to scientists.
中国正计划从月球探测到火星探测。国家航天局（CNSA）准备大胆尝试，通过两次发射任务从火星取样。该任务名为“天问3号”，将于2028年发射单独的服务舱和返回舱以及火星着陆和上升航天器堆栈，目标是在2031年左右向地球运送样本。据科学家称，这项任务的主要目的是寻找火星在过去和现在是否有生命存在的痕迹。
The mission seems likely to attempt to collect Mars samples and deliver them to Earth before NASA's own Mars Sample Return efforts. That project is currently in doubt, with NASA seeking new proposals to cut costs and accelerate the timeline.
该任务极有可能在美国宇航局从火星带回样本之前收集到火星样本并送到地球。不过目前该任务仍存在不确定性，因为美国宇航局正在想办法来削减成本和加快样本收集时间表。
Additionally, Li Guoping, speaking through an interpreter, said there is 55 pounds (25 kilograms) of payload space on the Tianwen 3 orbiter for international cooperation, and another 11 pounds (5 kg) available on the surface spacecraft.
此外，通过翻译可知，李国平表示天问三号轨道飞行器上有55磅（25千克）的有效载荷空间可用于国际合作，地表飞行器上还有另外11磅（5千克）的空间可用。
"We sincerely welcome participation from international space agencies, research institutions and education institutions," Li said.
“我们真诚地欢迎国际航天机构、研究机构和教育机构的参与，”李说。
China's efforts at international space cooperation don't end there. Guan revealed that more than 30 applications have been made in response to a call of opportunity to participate in Chang'e 8. These applications are currently in the review and selection phase, Guan said.
中国在国际航天合作方面的努力不止于此。关透露道，已经有30多份申请响应参与嫦娥八号，这些申请目前正处于审查和选择阶段。
Li also stated China will open a second round of international applications for accessing the Chang'e 5 nearside samples for research.
李还表示，中国将开放第二轮国际申请，以获取嫦娥五号近侧样本进行研究。
Around 2030, China will launch its first mission beyond the asteroid belt. Tianwen 4 will send a spacecraft to Jupiter, Li said. The mission will survey the Jupiter system before orbiting the Galilean moon Callisto. It could also include a spacecraft that will separately make a flyby of Uranus, according to earlier reports. Li also noted that a planetary defense mission is planned for the coming years.
到2030年左右，中国将首次向小行星带外进行发射任务。李说，天问4号将向木星发送一艘航天器。该任务将在绕伽利略卫星木卫四运行之前，对木星系统进行调查。根据早些时候的报道，它还可能包括一艘单独飞越天王星的航天器。李还指出，未来几年计划开展一个行星防御任务。
Another mission expected to launch in the coming years is an asteroid-deflection test, attempting to demonstrate a kinetic impactor similar to NASA's DART mission.
预计在未来几年发射的另一项任务是小行星偏转测试，试图展示类似于美国宇航局DART任务的动能撞击器。
The above missions will be robotic. But China is also planning a crewed effort, the most complex and challenging mission it has ever attempted: The country aims to land astronauts on the moon before 2030.
上述任务将由机器人完成。但中国还计划进行载人任务，这是其尝试过的最复杂、最具挑战性的任务：该国的目标是在2030年之前将宇航员送上月球。
Meanwhile, NASA is working on efforts to return its astronauts to the moon with Artemis 3. Further delays to the mission, currently scheduled for late 2026, could raise questions about which country — the United States or China — lands on the moon for the first time in the 21st century.
与此同时，美国宇航局也正在努力让宇航员乘坐阿耳忒弥斯3号重返月球。目前该计划定于2026年底进行，如果其进一步推迟，可能会对美国和中国在21世纪首次登陆月球造成问题。
