阿波罗17号的月艇

阿波罗17号的月艇

Apollo 17’s Moonship
Image Credit: Apollo 17, NASA, (Image Reprocessing: Andy Saunders)

Explanation: Awkward and angular looking, Apollo 17’s lunar module Challenger was designed for flight in the near vacuum of space. Digitally enhanced and reprocessed, this picture taken from Apollo 17’s command module America shows Challenger’s ascent stage in lunar orbit. Small reaction control thrusters are at the sides of the moonship with the bell of the ascent rocket engine underneath. The hatch allowing access to the lunar surface is seen at the front, with a round radar antenna at the top. Mission commander Gene Cernan is clearly visible through the triangular window. This spaceship performed gracefully, landing on the Moon and returning the Apollo astronauts to the orbiting command module in December of 1972. So where is Challenger now? Its descent stage remains at the Apollo 17 landing site in the Taurus-Littrow valley. The ascent stage pictured was intentionally crashed nearby after being jettisoned from the command module prior to the astronauts’ return to planet Earth.

Tomorrow’s picture: fast sand

阿波罗17号的月艇
影像提供: Apollo 17, NASA, (影像再处理: Andy Saunders)

说明: 阿波罗17号的登月艇挑战者号，外观笨拙且棱棱角角，不过这并不要紧，因为它是设计要在接近真空的太空中飞行。这张摄于美国号指挥舱，后来经过强化和再处理的影像，呈现了在月球轨道上的登月艇返回级。在照片里，可以看见返回级侧边用来进行操控的小喷射器，其下方有推送返回级升空的火箭引擎钟形喷口。前方可见到让太空人前往月表的舱门，顶端有圆型的雷达天线碟。而在三角窗的后方，可清楚看到此任务的指挥官色南。1972年12月，这艘月艇很轻巧的降落在月表上，后来又把太空人安全的送回指挥舱。然而，现在如今挑战者号何在？它的登月级，仍留在阿波罗17号降落的金牛-利特罗峡谷。而返回级则在返回地球前，刻意与脱离指挥舱并坠毁在登月级附近。

Tomorrow’s picture: fast sand