China unveiled on Tuesday its first-ever medium- and long-term plan for space science development, looking to establish itself as a "global space science power" by 2050.

10月15日，中國發布首個國家空間科學中長期發展規劃，目標到2050年成為 “全球空間科學強國”。

The plan, which was jointly released by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the China National Space Administration and the China Manned Space Agency at a news conference held by the State Council Information Office, aims to achieve "landmark original results with significant international impact".

該規劃由中國科學院、國家航天局、中國載人航天工程辦公室在國新辦舉行的新聞發布會上聯合發布，旨在取得“具有重大國際影響力的標志性原創成果”。

It outlines the development goals of China's space science, including 17 priority areas under five key scientific themes. The themes include the extreme universe, the sun-Earth panoramic view, habitable planets, and biological and physical sciences in space, said Ding Chibiao, vice-president of the CAS.

該規劃明確了中國空間科學發展的目標，提出5大科學主題和17個優先發展方向。中國科學院副院長丁赤飆介紹，這些科學主題包括“極端宇宙”“日地全景”“宜居行星”和“太空格物”等。

China will explore the habitability of celestial bodies in the solar system and of exoplanets, as well as conduct missions to search for extraterrestrial life, Ding said, adding that the priority areas also include sustainable development, the origin and evolution of solar system, and characterization of planetary atmospheres.

丁赤飆補充，中國將探索太陽系天體和系外行星的宜居性，開展地外生命探尋。優先發展方向包括可持續發展、太陽系考古、行星圈層刻畫等。

The key scientific questions to be addressed include the habitability and signs of extraterrestrial life on Mars, icy moons and ice giants, and exoplanets.

需要解決的關鍵科學問題包括火星、冰衛星、冰巨星以及系外行星的宜居性和地外生命跡象。

The plan outlined a three-phase road map leading to 2050.

該規劃提出了至2050年中國空間科學發展路線圖。

By 2027, China intends to continuously secure world-class achievements in disciplines where it has a strong foundation and advantages, such as high-energy time-domain astronomy, the origin and evolution of the moon and Mars, and microgravity physics.

到2027年，中國計劃在高能時域天文觀測、月球和火星的形成與演化、微重力物理科學等有基礎、有優勢的領域不斷取得世界級成就。

Additionally, it will consider implementing a series of space science missions in cutting-edge areas, including dark matter and extreme universe studies, gravitational waves, exoplanets, and solar activity. In these fields, five to eight missions will be proposed and initiated, with two to three major projects expected to deliver landmark results.

此外，中國將考慮實施一系列前沿領域的空間科學任務，包括暗物質和極端宇宙研究、引力波、系外行星和太陽活動。在這些領域，中國將論證立項5-8項任務，其中兩到三個重大項目有望取得里程碑式的成果。

Between 2028 and 2035, China will deploy a range of space science missions, envisioning about 15 projects in frontier areas such as the early universe, nearby habitable exoplanets, early solar system exploration and the search for extraterrestrial life.

2028年至2035年期間，中國將部署一系列空間科學任務，設想在早期宇宙、附近宜居系外行星、早期太陽系探測和尋找地外生命等前沿領域開展約15個項目。

During this phase, China will also continue operating the Tiangong space station, undertake feasibility studies for crewed lunar exploration and the establishment of an international lunar research station, and conduct approximately 15 space science satellite missions.

在這一階段，中國還將繼續運營天宮空間站，開展載人月球探測和國際月球科研站建設的可行性研究，並論證實施約15項空間科學衛星任務。

Between 2036 and 2050, China aims to achieve international leadership in critical fields, establishing itself as a "global space science power".

2036年至2050年，中國的目標是在重要領域達到世界領先水平，成為“全球空間科學強國”。

During the period, the country aspires to make "revolutionary breakthroughs in basic research" in areas such as the origin and evolution of the universe, the nature of space-time, the origins of the solar system and life, and crewed deep-space exploration, thereby "expanding the boundaries of human knowledge and advancing human civilization".

在此期間，中國希望在宇宙起源與演化、時空本質、太陽系與生命起源、載人深空探測等領域取得“基礎研究的革命性突破”，從而“拓展人類知識體系，推動文明進步”。

Meanwhile, China also plans to guide the global development of space science, proposing over 30 missions and positioning itself with core competitiveness and strong leadership in the next wave of the scientific and technological revolution.

同時，中國還計劃引領全球空間科學發展，提出30余項任務，使其在新一輪的科技革命中具有核心競爭力和強大領導力。

Lunar missions

月球探測任務

At the news conference, Yang Xiaoyu, director of the Department of System Engineering at the China National Space Administration, revealed more details about China's specific plans for future lunar exploration.

在新聞發布會上，中國國家航天局系統工程司司長楊小宇透露了中國未來月球探測計劃的更多具體細節。

The Chang'e 7 robotic probe will investigate the environment and resources on the lunar south pole, while the Chang'e 8 robotic probe will carry out technological verification of in-situ resource utilization, he said, noting that the two missions will form the basis of the proposed international lunar research station.

楊小宇介紹，嫦娥七號將要對月球的南極環境和資源進行探測，嫦娥八號將開展月球資源就位利用的技術驗證，二者會構成正在論證的國際月球科研站基本型。

Yang also shared the progress in research related to lunar samples brought back to Earth. In December 2020, Chang'e 5 brought back 1,731 grams of lunar soil, which he said is the "youngest moon sample" ever obtained.

楊小宇還分享了帶回地球的月背樣品相關研究進展。2020年12月，嫦娥五號從月球取回了1731克月壤樣品，這是人類迄今為止拿到的最年輕的月球樣品。

Research has found that volcanic activity on the moon occurred as recently as 120 million years ago, and it has been discovered that the moon's cooling rate is much slower than previously thought, Yang said.

楊小宇表示，研究發現，在1.2億年前月球已發生了火山活動，且月球變冷的速度比人們原來認識的要慢得多。

Scientists have identified a new mineral in the lunar samples and named it "Chang'e Stone", which is the sixth mineral ever discovered on the moon by mankind, he added.

楊小宇補充，科學家們也在月球樣本中發現了一種新的礦物，並將其命名為“嫦娥石”，這是人類在月球上發現的第六種新的礦物質。

panoramic

adj. 全景的

habitability

n. 宜居性

extraterrestrial

adj. 地球外的

cutting-edge area

前沿領域

envision

v. 展望，想象