Name: 觀看SpaceX的 "史上最難發射"。 (Watch SpaceX’s ‘Most Difficult Launch Ever’)
Uploaded: 2021-01-14T08:18:06.000Z
Duration: 3 min 22 s

六、五、四、三、二、一、零。

記得《獵鷹重型運載火箭》嗎？

SpaceX's megarocket that fired a Tesla up into space in 2018 and its first commercial satellite in early 2019.

就是 SpaceX 的重型火箭，它在 2018 年將特斯拉汽車送往太空，2019 年初，該火箭成為公司第一顆商用衛星。

This time not with one satellite but 24 of them, in what had been dubbed by SpaceX's CEO, Elon Musk, as its most difficult mission ever.

這次不只一顆衛星，而有 24 顆，SpaceX 的總裁 Elon Musk 稱其為「最困難的任務」。

The mission is called Space Test Program-2.

It's the first time Falcon Heavy has launched a payload for the US Air Force, but it may not be the last.

這是《獵鷹重型運載火箭》第一次為美國空軍發射彈藥，這也可能不是最後一次。

The rocket blasted off from the Kennedy Space Center.

該火箭在甘迺迪太空中心升空。

And although this is the rocket's third launch, it's the first with reused rockets.

即便這是第三次發射該火箭，但卻是第一次發射從太空回收的火箭。

Specifically the two side boosters, which were used on the previous Falcon launch in early 2019.

特別是兩個於 2019 年初使用在獵鷹火箭的側推進器。

Both side boosters made a simultaneous successful landing back at Kennedy Space Center shortly after takeoff.

發射不久後，兩個側推進器同時順利降落甘迺迪太空中心。

See it coming towards our two landing pads.

And the plan was that the central core would land on a drone ship 770 miles off the coast of Florida, but it slightly missed its mark and landed in the Atlantic Ocean instead.

計劃就是：核心主推進器會降落在距離佛羅里達沿岸 770 公里處的無人駕駛船上，但卻些微偏離了預定地點，轉而降落大西洋。

But it's not this complex series of rocket-landing attempts that is why Musk called this the most difficult mission yet.

但這一系列的嘗試性火箭降落不是 Elon Musk 所稱的「最困難任務」。

It was the complexity of the payload and how SpaceX had to deploy it, because the mission involved not only multiple satellites but multiple orbits.

最困難的是裝載量的複雜度，以及 SpaceX 展開彈藥的方式，因為該任務不僅牽涉到多衛星，還有多軌道的問題。

Specifically, three separate orbits, which required four upper-stage engine burns the lasted over six hours.

具體來說，需要四次獨立的上級火箭引擎燃燒、三次獨立的軌道部署、總任務時長超過六小時才行。

In total, the collection of satellites brought the cost of this mission to an estimated $750 million.

總計來看，聚集衛星的費用估計帶來七億五千萬美金的成本。

Which isn't surprising when you see what this rideshare had on board, including a Deep Space digital atomic clock made by NASA for better space-navigation tracking, an experimental propellant developed by the US Air Force that's safer for humans to handle.

這也難怪為了更好的太空導航追蹤，它需要和 NASA 製造的「外太空數位原子鐘」分攤「車資」，其為美國空軍研發的實驗性發射劑，對人類來說較安全操控。

And an innovative spacecraft called a LightSail designed by The Planetary Society that's powered by solar rays alone.

一架創新的太空船 LightSail 由行星學會設計，只需太陽光就可發動。

But it wasn't just scientific instruments SpaceX launched.

但這不純粹像 SpaceX 發射的科學儀器。

Attached to the same satellite carrying NASA's atomic clock were the cremated remains of 152 people, including late NASA astronaut Bill Pogue.

包含 NASA 太空人 Bill Pogue 在內的 152 人骨灰，也同樣伴隨帶著 NASA 原子鐘的衛星。

These were sent up by Celestis Memorial Spaceflights, a company that will launch remains to space starting at nearly $5,000.

這些由美國公司 Celestis Memorial Spaceflights 送上太空，該公司以起價約五千美元的費用將骨灰發射至太空。

In all, the successful mission was a huge win for SpaceX because this puts it a step ahead of its competitors for a coveted government contract to launch some of the government's multimillion- to multibillion-dollar equipment.

總之，這次任務成功對 SpaceX 來說是一大勝利，此舉讓同行望塵莫及，因為 Spacex 得到所有人夢寐以求的政府合約，得以發射官方價值連城的儀器。

SpaceX will have to beat other competing companies like Blue Origin and United Launch Alliance.

SpaceX 將面臨其他對手，像是《藍色起源》和《聯合發射聯盟》。

But if it wins the contract, it would be a lucrative addition to the Falcon Heavy's already impressive launch manifest.

但若是贏得合約，這對表現出色的獵鷹火箭來說，簡直如虎添翼般，更有賺頭。

And could mean that we'll see more launches and landings like this one.

意味著我們可以看更多這樣的火箭發射和降落片段。

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觀看SpaceX的 "史上最難發射"。 (Watch SpaceX’s ‘Most Difficult Launch Ever’)

multiple

slightly

specifically

force