纽约时报：中美谁能抢占登月先机？

作者：纽约时报        来源：一天一篇外刊

NASA sent astronauts on a lunar flyby on Wednesday, a milestone toward grander ambitions. Both the United States and China want to build outposts around the moon’s south pole and hope to tap frozen water, hydrogen and helium there. Both countries plan to build nuclear reactors to power lunar bases from which they can launch missions into deep space.

本周三，NASA完成了一次载人绕月飞行任务，这意味美国向更宏大的目标又迈进了一步。东美两国都计划在月球南极建设基地，并希望利用月球冻结的水资源以及氢、氦等物质。两国还计划建设核反应堆，为月球基地提供能源，并以此为支点，开展更深入太空的探测任务。

It is a new frontier, and whoever gets there first will have a big say in setting the rules. NASA’s program, known as Artemis, has hit repeated snags. The United States wants to be back on the moon by 2028, two years ahead of China’s target, but even NASA acknowledges that it may not win.

这是一片新的前沿领域，谁先占得先机，谁就会在规则制定上拥有更大的话语权。NASA的登月计划“阿尔忒弥斯”起初推进得并不顺利，接连遇到不少阻碍。美国希望在2028年前重返月球，比东方设定的时间早两年，但就连NASA自己也承认，美国最终未必能抢占先机。

China is pursuing its lunar ambitions with a singular, formidable focus. Its program has several advantages over its American rivals. Experts say China’s edge lies in its centralized control, which allows it to plan and fund projects for decades at a time. Its robotic space missions have already gone where the United States has not.

中国正以高度专注，势头强劲的姿态推进登月计划，与美国相比，中国的登月项目在多个方面都更具优势。专家认为，东大的优势在于高度集中的统筹能力，这让它能够以数十年为周期，对相关项目进行长期规划和持续投入。中国的机器人航天任务也已经抵达了一些美国尚未到达的领域。

China is the only nation to land on and retrieve samples from the far side of the moon, the hemisphere that always faces away from Earth. This summer, China’s seventh robotic mission, Chang’e 7, will explore the lunar south pole.

中国是目前唯一一个在月球背面成功着陆并带回样本的国家。所谓月球背面，就是始终背向地球的那一侧。今年夏天，中国第七次机器人探月任务“嫦娥七号”将对月球南极展开探测。

It helps China that its immediate ambition is leaner. Chinese astronauts plan to land on the relatively accessible near side of the moon. That’s where Neil Armstrong took “one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind” in 1969.

另一个对中国有利的因素是，中国现阶段的核心目标更务实。中国航天员计划率先在登陆难度相对较低的月球近侧着陆。1969年，尼尔·阿姆斯特朗正是在那里迈出了那句著名的“个人一小步，人类一大步”。

American astronauts are aiming for the moon’s south pole.

美国航天员则把目标瞄准了月球南极。

A recent program overhaul could speed Artemis along. The new plan includes more launches to test components, gain confidence and lower risks, Mr. Isaacman said. After returning astronauts to the moon, NASA plans to launch missions every six months and sustain a presence there.

最近一次项目重组，或将加快“阿尔忒弥斯”计划的推进。艾萨克曼表示，新方案将增加发射次数，以测试相关部件、提升把握并降低风险。NASA还计划在宇航员重返月球后，每隔六个月执行一次任务，并在月球维持持续存在。

“This time the goal is not flags and footprints,” Mr. Isaacman said. “This time the goal is to stay.”

艾萨克曼说：“这一次，我们的目标不再只是插旗留痕，而是真正留下来。”

作者：纽约时报        来源：一天一篇外刊