In 2003， two rovers named Spirit and Opportunity were sent to Mars. They were sent at different times and landed on different days in January， 2004. Spirit landed safely on January 4， 2004. Opportunity landed on January 24， 2004.After they landed， these rovers were able to travel about half a foot- ball field in a Martian3 day. Each rover held tools. They will search for signs of water that may have been there a long time ago.The rovers are built just the same.They landed in the same way， but， in different places， far away from each other.

On landing，a parachute4 would open.This would slow the spacecraft5. Rockets would fire to slow it even more.

Airbags6 would fill to makethelanding softer. When the rovers got to the surface，they would bounce7 a few times. They might even roll a while before they stopped. When they stopped， the air would be let out of the bags. The ship would be uncovered.

The rovers would carry all their tools with them.As soon as they landed，the rovers would start looking around.They would take pictures. Then， they would each drive off to begin exploring Mars.

Scientists will look at these pictures everyday. They will tell the rovers where to go to get more rock and soil samples. At first， the rovers will stay close to where they landed. But， later they will go farther away.

Why are We Going to Mars?

1. To find out if there was ever life on MarsLife， as we know it，has to have water.The history' of water on Mars is very important.We hope to find out if Mars was ever able to support life.

2. To learn about Martian climateCareful studies of rock samples with the rover instruments will show what the climate of Mars was like in the past.It may have been warmer and wetter.

3.To learn about Martian geology8Studying rock samples will show what they are made of.They will also show what Mars was like when they were made.

4.To get ready for human explorationThe Mars rovers will tell what the Martian soil and dust is made of. It may even show some dangerous things that might happen to people who are exploring Mars.

2003年，名為“勇氣”號和“機遇”號的兩輛探測車，被送往火星。它們在不同的時間被送往火星并于2004年1月份的不同時間里在火星上著陸；“勇氣”號于2004年1月4日安全著陸，“機遇”號則于2004年1月24日著陸。著陸后，它們可以在一個火星日內(nèi)行走相當(dāng)于半個足球場的距離。每輛探測車都攜帶工具，它們將尋找很早以前就存在的水的痕跡。兩輛探測車的構(gòu)造相同。它們的著陸方式相同，但位置不同，且相互距離很遠。

登陸時，降落傘會打開。這會減低飛行器的速度?；鸺龑Ⅻc燃，使飛行器的速度進一步減慢。

氣囊充氣是為了實現(xiàn)登陸器的軟著陸。當(dāng)探測車到達火星表面時它們將彈跳多次。甚至滾動一會兒后才停下來。在探測車停穩(wěn)后，空氣從氣囊中排出，船艙打開，顯露出探測車。

探測車攜帶所有的工具。它們一旦登陸，便會開始四處察看、拍照。然后它們分頭行駛，開始火星探測。

科學(xué)家們每天都會對這些照片進行分析。他們會命令探測車去哪采集更多的巖石和土壤標(biāo)本。起初，探測車將在它們的登陸地點附近逗留，但是，以后將走向較遠的地方。

為什么我們要去火星

1.查明火星上是否曾有過生命眾所周知，生命依賴于水，因此火星上水的歷史至關(guān)重要。我們希望能夠查明火星是否曾適宜于生命的存在。

2.了解火星的氣候用探測車的工具對火星巖石標(biāo)本進行的深入研究將揭示出火星歷史上的氣候特征?；鹦堑臍夂蚩赡苷谧兊酶汀⒏睗?。

3．了解火星的地質(zhì)對巖石標(biāo)本的研究將顯示出它們的組成，并顯示出火星在形成時是什么樣的。

4．為人類探測作準備火星探測車將查明火星土壤和塵埃的構(gòu)成。它甚至?xí)@示出某些可能對未來探測火星的人造成危害的東西。

注釋：

1．exploration n. 探測，測定2．rovern. 漫游者3．Martian adj．火星的

4．parachute n．降落傘 5．spacecraftn．[空]航天器，宇宙飛船

6．a(chǎn)irbagn．氣囊7．bounce vi．彈起，反彈 8．geology n．地質(zhì)學(xué)，地質(zhì)情況