NASA Announces Crew and Plans for the 2027 Artemis III Lunar Mission
NASA 公佈 2027 年 Artemis III 月球任務的機組員與計劃
Introduction
NASA has revealed the crew members and technical goals for the Artemis III mission, planned for 2027. This mission will focus on testing docking procedures in orbit and verifying that all systems work correctly.
NASA 已揭露預計於 2027 年執行的 Artemis III 任務的機組員與技術目標。此次任務將重點測試軌道上的對接程序，並驗證所有系統是否正常運作。
Main Body
The Artemis III mission is a vital preparation step for the 2028 expedition to the lunar south pole. The process begins with the launch of the Orion spacecraft using the Space Launch System (SLS) from the Kennedy Space Center. Before this, a Blue Origin lander prototype will be sent into space. Once in orbit, the Orion crew will connect and dock with the Blue Origin vehicle for about two days. After that, they will disconnect and perform a similar docking test with a SpaceX Starship prototype for one day. These activities are designed to ensure that the software, engines, and communication systems of the Orion capsule work well with the commercial landers.
Artemis III 任務是 2028 年前往月球南極遠征的關鍵準備步驟。過程首先是在肯尼迪太空中心，使用太空發射系統 (SLS) 發射 Orion 太空船。在此之前，將先將一個 Blue Origin 登月艙原型機送入太空。進入軌道後，Orion 的機組員將與 Blue Origin 的載具對接約兩天。之後，他們將脫離對接，並與 SpaceX Starship 的原型機進行為期一天的類似對接測試。這些活動旨在確保 Orion 艙的軟體、引擎與通訊系統能與商業登月艙良好配合。
The crew includes Commander Randy Bresnik, Pilot Luca Parmitano from the European Space Agency (ESA), and Mission Specialists Andre Douglas and Frank Rubio, with Bob Hines as the backup. The inclusion of Parmitano is a significant step in international cooperation, as he is the first ESA astronaut assigned to an Artemis mission. This partnership is further supported by the ESA, which provides the European Service Module. Currently, the crew is training on Orion systems and testing lander prototypes.
機組員包括指令長 Randy Bresnik、來自歐洲太空局 (ESA) 的飛行員 Luca Parmitano，以及任務專家 Andre Douglas 與 Frank Rubio，而 Bob Hines 為後備。Parmitano 的加入是國際合作的重要一步，因為他是首位被指派參與 Artemis 任務的 ESA 太空人。此合作夥伴關係由 ESA 進一步支持，由其提供歐洲服務模組。目前，機組員正接受 Orion 系統訓練並測試登月艙原型機。
At the same time, NASA is preparing the hardware. This includes testing the Orion docking system and inspecting the heat shield. For the SLS rocket, engineers are currently installing four RS-25 engines and will begin stacking the rocket this summer. To meet the specific needs of Artemis III, NASA is creating a special spacer to replace the standard upper stage. These tasks are coordinated by officials like Elkin Norena, who manages the communication between the ground systems and the Marshall Space Flight Center.
與此同時，NASA 正在準備硬體。這包括測試 Orion 對接系統以及檢查隔熱罩。至於 SLS 火箭，工程師目前正在安裝四個 RS-25 引擎，並將於今年夏天開始組裝火箭。為了滿足 Artemis III 的特定需求，NASA 正在開發一個特殊的墊圈以取代標準的上層級。這些工作由 Elkin Norena 等官員協調，他負責管理地面系統與馬歇爾太空飛行中心之間的通訊。
Conclusion
The Artemis III mission will end with the crew returning to Earth and landing in the Pacific Ocean after approximately two weeks of orbital tests.
Artemis III 任務將在約兩週的軌道測試後，由機組員返回地球並於太平洋著陸而結束。
Vocabulary Learning
🚀 Moving from 'Simple' to 'Strategic' English
At the A2 level, you likely use basic verbs like do, make, or get. To reach B2, you need to use Precise Action Verbs. Look at how this text describes space operations. Instead of saying "NASA is doing tests," it uses words that tell us exactly how the action is happening.
🛠 The "B2 Power Verbs" from the text
| A2 Word (Basic) | B2 Word (Precise) | Why it's better |
|---|---|---|
| Check | Verify | Verify implies a formal, technical process to prove something is true. |
| Join | Dock | Dock is the specific technical term for two spacecraft connecting. |
| Help | Support | Support sounds more professional and suggests a structural or financial partnership. |
| Start | Launch | Launch is the exact action of sending a rocket into the air. |
💡 The "B2 Logic": Collocations
B2 students don't just learn words; they learn word pairs (collocations). Notice these patterns in the article:
- "Vital preparation step" Don't just say "important part." Use vital to show urgency.
- "International cooperation" This is a high-level phrase for "countries working together."
- "Meet the specific needs" A professional way to say "get what is required."
Coach's Tip: Next time you write a sentence, ask yourself: "Is there a more precise verb for this action?" If you are talking about a project, don't "do" it—coordinate it. Don't "check" the results—verify them.