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This is Scientific American 60 Seconds Space. I'm Clara Moskowitz. Got a minute?
欢迎大家收听科学美国人，太空系列。我是克拉拉。
After orbiting Saturn for 10 years, NASA’s Cassini probe is ready for its last hurrah.
在土星轨道上运行了十年的“卡西尼”土星探测器在为最后的工作做努力。
The spacecraft has already revolutionized our knowledge of the ringed planet and its moons. Cassini discovered spewing water-ice geysers on the moon Enceladus. It uncovered lakes, rivers and evidence for ocean waves on the moon Titan. It captured Saturn’s majestic rings in unprecedented detail, and even revealed thepresence of previously unseen rings.
自从“卡西尼”号抵达土星系统后，取得了许多突破性的发现，改革了人们对土星及其行星的认知。比如发现了卫星Enceladus上存在着“羽状喷流”并在“泰坦”上发现了“湖泊”和巨大风暴。“卡西尼”还捕捉到了关于土星周围的“光环”的详尽情况，甚至发现了新的“碎片环”。
Now Cassini is gearing up for its final act. In 2016 the probe will embark on a series of dips and passes that should offer a whole new view of the Saturn system. The probe will dive between Saturn and its innermost ring 22 times over the course of about a year. It will climb high above the planet’s north pole, and skirt near the plumes jetting from Enceladus.
如今，“卡西尼”就要结束它的工作了。到2016年，“卡西尼”通过进入土星附近的轨道会为人类提供全方面的土星系统信息。探测器将穿过环绕卫星登陆土星，其里程长达22光年。从北极生气后，“卡西尼"会尽量避免卫星Enceladus上释放的羽状喷流。
NASA recently solicited public suggestions for what to call this closing mission segment. The winning name, it was just announced, is “Grand Finale.” The mission will end in September 2017, when Cassini will have a dramatic death by plunging into Saturn’s atmosphere. What an exit!
美国国家航空航天局向社会征询意见，该如何命名这一收尾工作。排名第一的是 “悲壮的终曲”。这项任务将于2017年9月结束，科学家将控制探测器坠入土星大气层。“壮哉，壮哉！”
