64億公里的等待 人類探測器首次登陸彗星
A European robot probe has made the first, historic landing on a comet, but its status is uncertain after harpoons failed to anchor it to the surface.
歐洲一架機器人探測器在人來歷史上首次成功在彗星上着陸，但是由於着陸器上的魚叉頭系統出現故障，所以其目前的狀態並未確定。
The "first" landing on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko was confirmed at about 1605 GMT.
“菲萊”着陸的彗星爲67P/丘留莫夫-格拉西緬科彗星，着陸的時間爲格林威治時間16點05分。
There were cheers and hugs at the European Space Agency (Esa) mission control in Darmstadt, Germany, after the signal came through.
“菲萊”成功着陸後，位於德國達姆施塔特市的歐洲航天局控制中心充滿了歡呼聲，工作人員們高興得相互擁抱。
Director general Jean-Jacques Dordain described it as "a great great day, not only for Esa, but... I think for the world". He described the landing as "a big step for human civilisation".
歐洲航天局的局長讓•雅克•多爾丹稱這一天是“非常偉大的一天，不只是對歐洲航天局來說，更是整個世界的一個大日子”。他稱這次着陸是“人類文明史上的一大步”。
Further analysis is needed to fully understand the status of the probe, known as Philae.
有關“菲萊”着陸器目前的情況還需要進一步的全面分析。
However, Lander project manager Stephan Ulamec told the BBC that at last radio contact with the probe, he believed it to be in a stable configuration.
但是“菲萊”着陸器主管史蒂芬·烏拉美克表示，通過最近一次與“菲萊”的無線電聯絡，他相信“菲萊”目前狀況穩定。
"This is the indication right now," he explained. "We really have to wait until tomorrow morning and then we will know a lot more."
“這是目前的情況”，他解釋道，“我們必須等到明天早上才能獲取更多的信息。”
Early data started to come back from instruments, and one team could see that the lander had sunk about 4cm (1.5 inches) into the surface, suggesting a relatively soft top layer.
“菲萊”已經傳回了之前的數據，工作人員能夠發現着陸器在表面下沉了4釐米，這說明彗星地面的表層相對較柔軟。
But shortly after, engineers could see that the harpoons, designed to fasten the spacecraft to the 4km-wide (2.5 miles) ball of ice and dust, had not fired as planned.
但隨後，工程師們發現之前設計的用來在彗星表面固定着陸器的魚叉頭系統並未按計劃射出。
In a later media briefing, Dr Ulamec said: "What we know is we touched down, we landed at the comet at the time when you all saw us cheering and when it was announced.
在之後的媒體通氣會上，烏拉美克博士說：“我們所知的是“菲萊”已經着陸了，着陸後我們就向大家進行了宣佈，大家也看到了我們的歡呼。”
"We had a very clear signal there; we received data from the landing - housekeeping and science data. That's the good news."
“現在我們這裏有非常清晰的信號，能收到來自登陸管家的數據信息，這是個好消息。”
But then Dr Ulamec delivered the "bad news". He said telemetry from the craft suggested it might have drifted off the surface after landing and started to turn. This subsequently came to an end, which the German Space Agency official interpreted as a possible "second landing" on Comet 67P.
但烏拉美克博士同時也傳達了一個“壞消息”。他說通過遙感勘測技術可得知，“菲萊”在着陸後在表面漂浮並開始轉動。但緊接着這種狀況就結束了，德國航天局的工作人員將這稱爲在67P上的“二次着陸”。
In fact, even later data would indicate that the Philae robot may have bounced twice, taking a full two hours to come to a rest.
事實上，之後的數據將會顯示“菲萊”可能彈跳了兩次，並用了兩個小時才穩定下來。
This bouncing was always a possibility, but had been made more likely by the failure of the harpoons to deploy, and the failure of a thruster intended to push the robot into the surface.
這種彈跳或許只是一種可能，但也意味用來將“菲萊”在表面固定的魚叉頭和推進器可能都出現了故障。
Pictures from the surface have been retrieved at Earth and are being processed in preparation for release.
彗星表面的圖片已經傳至地球，現正在處理中，之後會發布出來。
Scientists were initially elated following the confirmation of a landing.
在得知“菲萊”着陸後，很多科學家都非常興奮。
But the news about the unanchored state of Philae has cast a shadow over the celebrations.
但是目前“菲萊”無法固定的消息也給大家心裏蒙上一層陰影。
The mission team must decide if the harpoons can now be commanded to fire without unsteadying the robot still further.
工作人員必須決定在“菲萊”不穩定的狀態下是否能夠下令發射魚叉頭。
What is clear is that Philae touched down very close to the targeted zone on the head of the rubber-duck-shaped comet.
但可以確定的是“菲萊”着陸的位置離預訂區域非常近，位於這顆鴨子形狀的彗星的頭部。
If Philae remains stable and can be properly secured, it will engage in several months of science experiments on 67P.
如果“菲萊”保持穩定狀態並能夠確保安全，它將負責完成在67P上長達幾個月的科學實驗。
It will take pictures of the cometscape and analyse the surface chemical composition.
它將拍攝彗星地形的圖片，並分析彗星地表物質的成分。
Scientists are hoping 67P's surface materials will hold fresh insights into the origins of our Solar System more than 4.5 billion years ago.
科學家們希望67P的地表物質能夠爲人類探索有450億年曆史的太陽系的起源提供新思路。
