As we enter the new year , we take a look back at some of the biggest space stories of 2024 .
新年伊始，我们来回顾一下2024年最重大的几则太空新闻。
Nearly one year ago , a private spacecraft completed the first U.S . moon landing in more than 50 years .
大约一年前，一艘私人航天器完成了美国50多年来的首次登月。
The American space agency NASA announced the space lander , called Odysseus , had touched down on the lunar surface February 22 .
美国国家航空航天局（NASA）宣布，名为“奥德修斯”的着陆器于2月22日降落在月球表面。
Odysseus was developed by the Texas-based company Intuitive Machines .
“奥德修斯”由总部位于得克萨斯州的直觉机器公司研发。
The spacecraft carried out several science experiments before powering down permanently on the moon in late March .
这艘航天器在3月下旬于月球上永久断电之前完成了多项科学实验。
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，“奥德修斯”成功采集了数据，帮助该机构“更好地了解月球环境，提高着陆精度和安全性”。
Japan's space agency JAXA announced in January 2024 that its SLIM spacecraft had successfully landed on the moon .
日本宇宙航空研究开发机构（JAXA）于2024年1月宣布，其SLIM探测器成功登陆月球。
But the lander touched down the wrong way up , causing some communication and power problems .
但着陆器着陆时上下颠倒，导致了一些通信和电力问题。
Japanese space officials reported that they stayed in communication with SLIM through late April .
日本航天官员报告说，他们与SLIM的通信一直保持到4月下旬。
They said the spacecraft was able to collect valuable data about the touchdown and surrounding area .
他们说，这艘探测器收集到了有关着陆过程和周边区域的宝贵数据。
One purpose of the mission was to demonstrate new precision landing technology .
这次任务的目的之一是展示新的精确着陆技术。
JAXA said the experiment was successful because SLIM was able to land within 10 meters of its planned target .
JAXA表示，实验取得了成功，因为SLIM降落在距离预定目标10米以内的地方。
In May , China launched its Chang'e 6 spacecraft to the moon's far side .
5月，中国发射了嫦娥六号探测器前往月球背面。
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，中国航天官员宣布，该探测器携带在月球表面采集的岩石和土壤样本返回了地球。
The successful return made China the first country to ever collect and bring back lunar samples from the far side of the moon .
这次成功返回使中国成为第一个从月球背面采集并带回样本的国家。
The area is known as the far side because it always faces away from Earth .
这个区域被称为背面，是因为它始终背对着地球。
NASA crashed its DART spacecraft into the space rock in 2022 , about 11 million kilometers from Earth .
2022年，NASA让其DART航天器在距离地球约1100万公里处撞击了这颗小行星。
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，这次任务成功证明了改变未来可能威胁地球的小行星的轨道是可行的。
Hera aims to closely examine Dimorphos to get more details on how the strike by DART affected the asteroid .
“赫拉”的目标是近距离考察迪莫弗斯，以进一步了解DART的撞击对这颗小行星产生了怎样的影响。
The data that NASA collected is to be used together with information gathered by ESA to develop future planetary defense plans .
NASA收集的数据将与欧洲航天局收集的信息一起，用于制定未来的行星防御计划。
NASA announced the successful launch of its Europa Clipper spacecraft in October .
NASA于10月宣布成功发射了“欧罗巴快船”探测器。
The explorer is designed to search for possible signs of life on Jupiter's moon Europa .
这个探测器的设计目的是在木星的卫星木卫二（欧罗巴）上寻找可能存在的生命迹象。
Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system and has numerous moons .
木星是太阳系中最大的行星，拥有众多卫星。
But icy Europa has been identified by scientists as a good candidate for having the right conditions to support life .
但冰冷的木卫二已被科学家认定为具备适宜生命存在条件的理想候选者。
Several studies have suggested the moon likely contains a large ocean beneath its icy surface .
多项研究表明，这颗卫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，“欧罗巴快船”将飞掠火星，然后折返飞向地球，“利用每颗行星的引力来增加动量”。
These kinds of “gravity assists ” are expected to provide the needed push to get the spacecraft to Jupiter by 2030 .
这种“引力助推”预计将提供所需的推力，使探测器在2030年前抵达木星。
The two were expected to stay in space for only a week .
两人原本预计只在太空停留一周。
But ongoing technical issues with the Starliner spacecraft prevented a return trip .
但“星际客机”飞船持续出现的技术问题使他们无法返航。
NASA announced plans in August to have Starliner return to Earth without the astronauts .
8月，NASA宣布计划让“星际客机”在不载宇航员的情况下返回地球。
The current plan is for Wilmore and Williams to return on a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft sometime in late March or April .
按照目前的计划，威尔莫尔和威廉姆斯将在3月下旬或4月搭乘SpaceX的“龙”飞船返回。
SpaceX has now completed six launch tests of its huge Starship rocket system .
SpaceX目前已完成了其巨型“星舰”火箭系统的六次发射测试。
Four of those tests were carried out in 2024 .
其中四次是在2024年进行的。
The last test took place in November .
最近一次测试是在11月。
The Starship rocket and spacecraft system is designed to be a completely reusable vehicle to transport astronauts and supplies .
“星舰”火箭和飞船系统被设计为可完全重复使用的运载工具，用于运送宇航员和物资。
It has successfully demonstrated that ability in its most recent experimental flights .
它在最近几次试飞中成功展示了这一能力。
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月的一次测试中，“星舰”的“超重型”助推火箭被一个带有金属机械臂的巨大结构“接住”并固定。
A short time later , Starship's second stage safely splashed down in the Indian Ocean .
不久之后，“星舰”的第二级安全溅落在印度洋。