NASA將使用足球場大小的氣球研究恆星大綱

NASA is taking research to new heights -- and lengths -- with an ambitious upcoming mission.

美國航空航天局即將進行一項雄心勃勃的任務，將研究推向新的高度，同時也拓展了研究領域。

ASTHROS (Astrophysics Stratospheric Telescope for High Spectral Resolution Observations at Submillimeter-wavelengths) is a balloon that will carry a telescope into the stratosphere to study the cosmos and "observe wavelengths of light that aren't visible from the ground," NASA says.

美國航空航天局說，ASTHROS（亞毫米波長高光譜分辨率觀測的天體物理平流層望遠鏡）是一個氣球，攜帶望遠鏡進入平流層研究宇宙，並“觀察地面上看不到的波長”。

A gondola will be used beneath the balloon to carry the instrument as well as the telescope, which is made up of an eight-foot antenna and several mirrors, lenses and detectors.

氣球下面有吊籃，裝有器械和望遠鏡，望遠鏡上有八英尺天線和幾個鏡子、透鏡和探測器。

To do this successfully, ASTHROS has to hit an altitude of around 130,000 feet (roughly 24.6 miles), which is about four times higher than commercial airliners fly! As for the dimensions of the balloon itself, it measures 400 feet wide -- about the size of a football stadium, according to the release.

爲了成功完成任務，ASTHROS需上升到約130,000英尺（約24.6英里）的高度，比商用客機飛行高度高出四倍！據透露，氣球本身400英尺寬，約爲一個足球場大小。

The team has put finishing touches on cooling and electronic systems involved, and in August, engineers will perform tests to make sure they run smoothly.

該團隊已完成冷卻和相關電子系統的收尾工作，工程師們將於8月份進行測試，以確保運行平穩。

NASA says the balloon is expected to make two or three loops around the South Pole in about 21 to 28 days, studying regions in the Milky Way galaxy, newborn stars, nitrogen ions and more.

美國航空航天局說預計這個氣球將繞南極兩到三圈，耗時約21-28天，研究銀河系的區域、新生恆星、氮離子等。

After the mission is completed, operators will send commands that effectively separate the gondola, which is connected to a parachute, from the ballon. The gondola will then fall to the ground so the telescope can be collected and refurbished for future flights.

任務完成後，操作人員將發送指令使吊籃和氣球有效分離，吊籃上綁有降落傘。吊籃將着陸，以便收回並翻新望遠鏡，以備未來之需。