可惜了：就差2.1公里，印度登月失败！

可惜了，就差那么一点。印度全国上下热切期盼的登月计划，暂时搁浅了。

图 via Getty Images

印度“月船2号”（Chandrayaan-2）着陆器原计划将于今天登陆月球。早在本周初，印度民众就已开始翘首期盼该国登陆月球南极区域的首次尝试。社交平台上还曾疯传过一段印度著名街头行为艺术家模拟的“月球漫步”视频。(印度官方登月还没有开始，这位行为艺术家已经火了一把)

不过可惜的是，当地时间7日凌晨2:15（北京时间7日凌晨4:45）左右，印度空间研究组织（Indian Space Research Organisation）宣布，印度“月船2号”着陆器在距离月球表面2.1公里处失去了信号，该组织将分析数据找出原因。

The lander of India’s Chandrayaan-2 moon mission was attempting a “soft,” or controlled, landing near the south pole of the moon where scientists believe there could be water ice. ISRO lost communication with it just as it was about to land on the moon.

印度“月船2号”着陆器试图在月球南极附近“软着陆”，或者说受控制地着陆，科学家们认为那里可能有水冰（一种宇宙矿物）。在“月船2号”即将登陆月球时，印度空间研究组织与它失去了联系。

▲India loses contact with spacecraft on mission to the moon(via Reuters)

“月船2号”失联前，班加罗尔航天指挥中心内的科学家们，为降落过程中的每一小步成功而庆贺。但就在着陆即将发生的那一刻，随着信号逐渐消失，控制室陷入了一片寂静。

图 via AP

身在指挥中心现场的印度总理莫迪（Narendra Modi）在“月船2号”失联后，鼓励全体工作人员。

"In life, there are ups and downs. The country is proud of you. And all your hard work has taught us something ... Hope for the best ... You have served the country well and served science and humanity well," said Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the announcement.

“生活总充满了起起落落。国家为你们自豪。你们的辛勤工作教会了我们一些东西……要抱有最好的希望……你们很好地服务了这个国家，也很好地服务了科学和人类，”印度总理莫迪说道。

Later, Modi tweeted: "We remain hopeful and will continue working hard on our space programme." He was scheduled to address the nation later Saturday.

稍后，莫迪在推特上写道：“我们仍然充满希望，并将继续努力推进我们的太空计划。”他原定于星期六晚些时候向全国发表讲话。

▲India's historic landing on moon's polar surface may have failed (via CNN)

图 via Reuters

原本，假如这次“月船2号”登月成功，将使印度跻身成功实现月球软着陆的精英国家之列。此前，美国、中国和前苏联都成功进行了软着陆。

Unlike previous attempts by other countries, India was attempting to land its rover on the far side of the moon, an area that has been left largely unexplored during other missions.

与其他国家此前的尝试不同，印度曾试图将其探测器降落在月球的远端，这一区域在其他登月任务中基本上没有被探索过。

The Chandrayaan-2, which means "moon vehicle" in Sanskrit, took off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in southern Andhra Pradesh on July 22. Weighing 3.8 tons and carrying 13 payloads, it had three elements: lunar orbiter, lander and rover.

7月22日，“月船2号”从安得拉邦南部斯里哈里科塔的萨迪什达万航天中心发射升空。它重3.8吨，携带13个有效载荷，由三个模块构成：月球轨道器、着陆器和月球车。

Before communication was lost, the lander was attempting to touch down in the high latitude areas near the south pole between two craters.

在失联之前，着陆器试图在南极附近两个陨石坑之间的高纬度区域着陆。

▲India's historic landing on moon's polar surface may have failed (via CNN)

印度曾于2008年成功发射首个月球探测器“月船1号”，获得了大量图像和探测数据。“月船1号”曾计划绕月运行两年，但在不到一年以后，它与地面一度失去了无线电联系。

图 via Getty Images