[新闻] “机遇”号火星车爬出“小鹰”陨石坑

央视国际 (2004年03月23日 16:39)


　　新华社华盛顿3月22日电 自1月24日着陆火星后，美国“机遇”号火星车一直在一个名为“小鹰”的陨石坑中活动。22日，它终于成功爬出了这个栖身近两个月、直径约22米、深约3米的“巢”，开始以全新视野打量火星“梅里迪亚尼平面”的风景。

　　 “机遇”号21日曾试图驶出“小鹰”陨石坑，但未成功，原因是陨石坑坡度达16度而且相当滑，六轮火星车无法获得足够的附着摩擦力。22日，“机遇”号在控制人员指挥下斜着从陨石坑内缘往上爬，并获成功。

　　美国宇航局下属喷气推进实验室发布的新闻简报说，“机遇”号导航相机拍摄的照片证实，火星车目前处在“小鹰”陨石坑外约9米的位置。它接下来的探测目标可能包括一块绰号为“铲子”的火星岩石，以及一片颜色较明亮的火星土壤。科学家们希望随后能指挥“机遇”号前行约790米，对另一个更大的陨石坑展开探测。

　　在火星另一侧，“机遇”号的孪生兄弟“勇气”号最近一直在一个大陨石坑边缘进行探测，并初步锁定了一块名为“马扎察尔”的火星岩石作为新探测目标，准备在今后几天中利用机械臂上的仪器对岩石进行分析。

　　“机遇”号和1月3日在火星着陆的“勇气”号的主要使命是寻找火星上是否存在过水的线索，它们已分别找到一些火星上曾经有水的证据。来自美国宇航局的消息说，宇航局计划美国东部时间23日下午举行新闻发布会，届时可能会公布火星车获得的最新重要发现。(记者毛磊)

责编：魏伟

照片要是彩色的就好了。

This image is the first 360-degree view from the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity's new position outside "Eagle Crater," the small crater where the rover landed about two months ago. Scientists are busy analyzing Opportunity's new view of the plains of Meridiani Planum. The plentiful ripples are a clear indication that wind is the primary geologic process currently in effect on the plains. The rover's tracks can be seen leading away from Eagle Crater. At the far left are two depressions--each about a meter (about 3.3 feet) across---that feature bright spots in their centers. One possibility is that the bright material is similar in composition to the rocks in Eagle Crater's outcrop and the surrounding darker material is what's referred to as "lag deposit," or erosional remnants, which are much harder and more difficult to wear away. These twin dimples might be revealing pieces of a larger outcrop that lies beneath. The depression closest to Opportunity is whimsically referred to as "Homeplate" and the one behind it as "First Base." The rover's panoramic camera is set to take detailed images of the depressions today, on Opportunity's 58th sol. The backshell and parachute that helped protect the rover and deliver it safely to the surface of Mars are also visible near the horizon, at the left of the image. This image was taken by the rover's navigation camera.

PIA05631: A Well-Traveled 'Eagle Crater' (right-eye)

This is the right-eye version of the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity's view on its 56th sol on Mars, before it left its landing-site crater. To the right, the rover tracks are visible at the original spot where the rover attempted unsuccessfully to exit the crater. After a one-sol delay, Opportunity took another route to the plains of Meridiani Planum. This image was taken by the rover's navigation camera.