As we enter the new year , we take a look back at some of the biggest space stories of 2024 .
新年伊始，我們來回顧一下2024年最重大的幾則太空新聞。
Nearly one year ago , a private spacecraft completed the first U.S . moon landing in more than 50 years .
大約一年前，一艘私人太空船完成了美國50多年來的首次登月。
The American space agency NASA announced the space lander , called Odysseus , had touched down on the lunar surface February 22 .
美國國家航空暨太空總署（NASA）宣布，名為「奧德修斯」的登陸器於2月22日降落在月球表面。
Odysseus was developed by the Texas-based company Intuitive Machines .
「奧德修斯」由總部位於德州的直覺機器公司研發。
The spacecraft carried out several science experiments before powering down permanently on the moon in late March .
這艘太空船在3月下旬於月球上永久斷電之前完成了多項科學實驗。
NASA said Odysseus had successfully captured data to help the agency “better understand the moon's environment and improve landing precision and safety .”
NASA表示，「奧德修斯」成功蒐集了資料，幫助該機構「更好地了解月球環境，提高著陸精度和安全性」。
Japan's space agency JAXA announced in January 2024 that its SLIM spacecraft had successfully landed on the moon .
日本宇宙航空研究開發機構（JAXA）於2024年1月宣布，其SLIM探測器成功登陸月球。
But the lander touched down the wrong way up , causing some communication and power problems .
但登陸器著陸時上下顛倒，導致了一些通訊和電力問題。
Japanese space officials reported that they stayed in communication with SLIM through late April .
日本航太官員報告說，他們與SLIM的通訊一直維持到4月下旬。
They said the spacecraft was able to collect valuable data about the touchdown and surrounding area .
他們說，這艘探測器收集到了有關著陸過程和周邊區域的寶貴資料。
One purpose of the mission was to demonstrate new precision landing technology .
這次任務的目的之一是展示新的精確著陸技術。
JAXA said the experiment was successful because SLIM was able to land within 10 meters of its planned target .
JAXA表示，實驗取得了成功，因為SLIM降落在距離預定目標10公尺以內的地方。
In May , China launched its Chang'e 6 spacecraft to the moon's far side .
5月，中國發射了嫦娥六號探測器前往月球背面。
In late June , Chinese space officials announced the spacecraft had returned to Earth with rock and soil samples collected on the lunar surface .
6月下旬，中國航太官員宣布，該探測器攜帶在月球表面採集的岩石和土壤樣本返回了地球。
The successful return made China the first country to ever collect and bring back lunar samples from the far side of the moon .
這次成功返回使中國成為第一個從月球背面採集並帶回樣本的國家。
The area is known as the far side because it always faces away from Earth .
這個區域被稱為背面，是因為它始終背對著地球。
NASA crashed its DART spacecraft into the space rock in 2022 , about 11 million kilometers from Earth .
2022年，NASA讓其DART太空船在距離地球約1100萬公里處撞擊了這顆小行星。
NASA said its mission successfully showed it was possible to change the orbit of asteroids that might threaten Earth in the future .
NASA表示，這次任務成功證明了改變未來可能威脅地球的小行星的軌道是可行的。
Hera aims to closely examine Dimorphos to get more details on how the strike by DART affected the asteroid .
「赫拉」的目標是近距離考察迪莫弗斯，以進一步了解DART的撞擊對這顆小行星產生了怎樣的影響。
The data that NASA collected is to be used together with information gathered by ESA to develop future planetary defense plans .
NASA蒐集的資料將與歐洲太空總署蒐集的資訊一起，用於制定未來的行星防禦計畫。
NASA announced the successful launch of its Europa Clipper spacecraft in October .
NASA於10月宣布成功發射了「歐羅巴快艇」探測器。
The explorer is designed to search for possible signs of life on Jupiter's moon Europa .
這個探測器的設計目的是在木星的衛星木衛二（歐羅巴）上尋找可能存在的生命跡象。
Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system and has numerous moons .
木星是太陽系中最大的行星，擁有眾多衛星。
But icy Europa has been identified by scientists as a good candidate for having the right conditions to support life .
但冰冷的木衛二已被科學家認定為具備適宜生命存在條件的理想候選者。
Several studies have suggested the moon likely contains a large ocean beneath its icy surface .
多項研究顯示，這顆衛星冰冷的表面之下很可能有一片巨大的海洋。
NASA said the Europa Clipper would fly past Mars , then back toward Earth , “using the gravity of each planet to increase its momentum .”
NASA表示，「歐羅巴快艇」將飛掠火星，然後折返飛向地球，「利用每顆行星的引力來增加動量」。
These kinds of “gravity assists ” are expected to provide the needed push to get the spacecraft to Jupiter by 2030 .
這種「重力助推」預計將提供所需的推力，使探測器在2030年前抵達木星。
The two were expected to stay in space for only a week .
兩人原本預計只在太空停留一週。
But ongoing technical issues with the Starliner spacecraft prevented a return trip .
但「星際客機」太空船持續出現的技術問題使他們無法返航。
NASA announced plans in August to have Starliner return to Earth without the astronauts .
8月，NASA宣布計畫讓「星際客機」在不載太空人的情況下返回地球。
The current plan is for Wilmore and Williams to return on a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft sometime in late March or April .
按照目前的計畫，威爾莫爾和威廉斯將在3月下旬或4月搭乘SpaceX的「龍」太空船返回。
SpaceX has now completed six launch tests of its huge Starship rocket system .
SpaceX目前已完成了其巨型「星艦」火箭系統的六次發射測試。
Four of those tests were carried out in 2024 .
其中四次是在2024年進行的。
The last test took place in November .
最近一次測試是在11月。
The Starship rocket and spacecraft system is designed to be a completely reusable vehicle to transport astronauts and supplies .
「星艦」火箭和太空船系統被設計為可完全重複使用的運載工具，用於運送太空人和物資。
It has successfully demonstrated that ability in its most recent experimental flights .
它在最近幾次試飛中成功展示了這項能力。
During one of the tests in October , Starship's Super Heavy booster rocket was "caught “ and secured by a huge structure that includes metal arms .
在10月的一次測試中，「星艦」的「超重型」助推火箭被一個帶有金屬機械臂的巨大結構「接住」並固定。
A short time later , Starship's second stage safely splashed down in the Indian Ocean .
不久之後，「星艦」的第二級安全濺落在印度洋。