中國調動多顆衛星參與失聯客機搜救

China is bringing its rapidly expanding satellite surveillance capabilities to bear in the effort to find out what happened to Malaysian Airlines flight 370 as the search stretches into its fourth day with virtually no clarity on where the jet might be.

針對馬來西亞航空(Malaysian Airlines)失聯客機的搜救工作已持續至第四天，但目前仍然毫無頭緒。與此同時，中國也正在動用該國快速發展的衛星監視系統參與搜救。

Chinese authorities adjusted the operations of 10 high-resolution satellites to offer search and rescue teams assistance in weather monitoring, communications and other areas, according to a report posted to the official Chinese military news website on Tuesday.

據中國軍網週二的報道，中國政府調動了10顆高分辨率衛星，在氣象監控、通訊以及其他領域向搜救隊伍提供援助。

The country has moved to greatly expand its satellite-based surveillance system in recent years, including the launch last year of a high-definition Earth observation satellite called the Gaofen-1. It has also continued to build out Beidou, a homegrown satellite-based navigation network designed in part to give the People's Liberation Army an alternative to the U.S.-controlled Global Positioning System.

近些年來，中國大力發展了以衛星爲基礎的監控系統，其中包括去年發射的高分辨率的對地觀測衛星高分一號。中國還在繼續開發自主發展的北斗衛星導航系統，這套系統設計的部分目的在於使得中國人民解放軍可以在美國開發的全球定位系統(Global Positioning System)以外還有另一個選擇。

China conducted 18 space launches carrying 24 satellites in 2012, according to the most recent U.S. Department of Defense report on China's military developments ( pdf). That's up from 11 launches and 15 satellites in 2008 ( pdf).

根據美國國防部關於中國軍事發展的最新報告，中國在2012年共進行了18次太空發射，運載衛星數量爲24顆。與之相比，2008年時太空發射次數爲11次，運載衛星15顆。

Analysts say the Chinese satellites aren't as powerful as top-end satellites deployed by the U.S. but have nevertheless greatly improved the country's surveillance and positioning capabilities. It isn't clear from Tuesday's report which satellites China has devoted to the search effort.

分析師稱，和美國部署的頂尖衛星相比，中國的衛星沒有那麼強大，但也極大地提升了中國的監控和定位實力。根據週二的報道目前還不清楚中國已經將那些衛星用於失聯飛機的搜尋任務。

Separately, China's foreign ministry said at a regular news briefing that two Chinese ships were scheduled to arrive in the search zone Tuesday, with another two likely to arrive Wednesday.

此外，中國外交部在例行新聞發佈會上稱，兩艘中國艦隻將於週二晚些時候抵達搜救區，另外兩艘或將於週三抵達。

'There will be altogether eight Chinese vessels involved in the search-and-rescue mission, including Chinese government, coast guard and naval vessels,' ministry spokesman Qin Gang said.

外交部發言人秦剛稱，屆時一共會有八艘中國艦隻參加搜救行動，其中包括公務船隻、海警船隻以及中國海軍軍艦。

Family members of Chinese passengers, who made up the majority of people aboard the Boeing 777-200 when it disappeared, earlier this week circulated a handwritten petition demanding China's foreign ministry show 'strong concern and resolve' in the search for answers about the plane.

失聯的波音777-200飛機上的中國乘客的家屬本週早些時候手寫了一份請願書，要求中國外交部對此事予以高度關注並加以解決。失聯飛機上的乘客大部分爲中國籍。