An American company has presented a new space vehicle built to explore the moon.

一家美國公司展示了一種為探索月球而建造的新型航天器。

California-based Venturi Astrolab uncovered its working model of the vehicle last week.

總部位于加州的文丘里天體實(shí)驗(yàn)室上周公布了該航天器的工作模型。

The explorer, or rover, is called FLEX.

這個探測器或漫游者被稱為FLEX。

Astrolab officials say the four-wheeled rover was designed to be sent to the moon by the American space agency NASA.

天體實(shí)驗(yàn)室的官員說，這個四輪月球車是由美國宇航局設(shè)計(jì)用來發(fā)射到月球的。

FLEX was developed to transport astronauts and cargo and support a series of lunar activities and experiments.

FLEX的開發(fā)是為了運(yùn)送宇航員和貨物，并支持一系列的月球活動和實(shí)驗(yàn)。

If NASA chooses to use the vehicle, it will become part of the Artemis program.

如果NASA選擇使用這個飛行器，它將成為阿爾特彌斯計(jì)劃的一部分。

That program aims to return humans to the moon as early as 2025.

該計(jì)劃的目標(biāo)是最早在2025年讓人類重返月球。

It also calls for establishing a long-term base on the moon that could one day launch astronauts to Mars.

它還要求在月球上建立一個長期基地，有朝一日可以把宇航員送上火星。

FLEX could become the first astronaut-transporting vehicle to visit the moon since NASA's Apollo 17 mission in 1972.

FLEX可能成為自1972年美國國家航空航天局阿波羅17號任務(wù)以來，第一個訪問月球的宇航員運(yùn)輸工具。

Apollo 17 was the last of six American manned missions to the moon.

阿波羅17號是美國六次載人登月任務(wù)中的最后一次。

Retired Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield recently test drove the vehicle.

加拿大退休宇航員克里斯·哈德菲爾德最近測試了這種飛行器。

He said in a video released by Astrolab that rovers used during the Apollo missions were built purely for exploration purposes.

他在天體實(shí)驗(yàn)室發(fā)布的一段視頻中說，阿波羅任務(wù)中使用的漫游者純粹是為了探索目的而建造的。

But, Hadfield added, FLEX was designed to support astronauts landing on the moon for long-term stays.

但是，哈德菲爾德補(bǔ)充說，F(xiàn)LEX是為支持宇航員在月球上長期停留而設(shè)計(jì)的。

'Once you get there, you've got to be able to move things around,' he said.

“一旦你到達(dá)那里，你必須能夠移動?xùn)|西，”他說。

'You also need to transition the equipment that keeps you alive and that enables the activities.'

“你還需要轉(zhuǎn)換設(shè)備，讓你保持活力，并使這些活動成為可能?！?/span>

Hadfield added: 'When we settle somewhere, we don't just need to get people from one place to another, but we need to move hardware, cargo, life support equipment and more.'

哈德菲爾德補(bǔ)充說：“當(dāng)我們在某個地方定居時，我們不僅需要將人們從一個地方運(yùn)送到另一個地方，我們還需要運(yùn)輸硬件、貨物、生命維持設(shè)備等。”

Apollo 17's rover set a moon speed record of 17.7 kilometers per hour.

阿波羅17號月球車創(chuàng)下了每小時17.7公里的月球速度記錄。

Astrolab chief Jaret Matthews says FLEX can move just as fast.

天體實(shí)驗(yàn)室首席執(zhí)行官賈雷特·馬修斯表示，F(xiàn)LEX也能以同樣快的速度移動。

He told Reuters such a speed is 'kind of a practical limit for the moon,' where gravity is one-sixth that of Earth.

他告訴路透社，這樣的速度“對月球來說是一種實(shí)際的限制”，因?yàn)樵虑虻闹亓χ挥械厍虻牧种弧?/span>

Matthews is a former rover engineer for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

馬修斯是美國宇航局噴氣推進(jìn)實(shí)驗(yàn)室的前漫游者工程師。

Vehicles designed for the Apollo missions operated with astronauts sitting and driving the vehicles like a car.

為阿波羅任務(wù)設(shè)計(jì)的航天器在運(yùn)行時由宇航員像駕駛汽車一樣坐著駕駛。

With FLEX, astronauts stand in the back and control the vehicle with a joystick device.

有了FLEX，宇航員就站在后面，用操縱桿裝置控制飛行器。

The vehicle weighs about 500 kilograms, but can carry loads up to 1,500, Astrolab officials say.

天體實(shí)驗(yàn)室的官員說，該飛行器重約500公斤，但可攜帶1500件物品。

With its sun-powered batteries fully charged, FLEX is designed to operate continuously for up to eight hours.

在太陽能電池充滿電的情況下，F(xiàn)LEX的設(shè)計(jì)可連續(xù)運(yùn)行8小時。

Matthews said the vehicle's energy storing system can survive the extreme cold of a lunar night and the rover can operate in total darkness.

馬修斯說，月球車的能量存儲系統(tǒng)可以承受月球夜晚的極端寒冷，月球車也可以在完全黑暗的環(huán)境中運(yùn)行。

Video of the test drive showed FLEX driving over sand and rocks in the California desert near Death Valley National Park.

試駕視頻顯示，在死亡谷國家公園附近的加州沙漠中，柔性駕駛在沙子和巖石上行駛。

After the test, Hadfield said 'it was huge fun' driving the vehicle.

測試結(jié)束后，哈德菲爾德說駕駛這輛車“非常有趣”。

I'm Bryan Lynn.

布萊恩·林恩報(bào)道。