TOWARDS the end of 2011 a large and hugely expensive robotic rover called Curiosity is due to blast off for Mars from Cape Canaveral.

在2011年即将结束之际，庞大又造价不菲的机器漫游者(称为“好奇者号”)在美国卡纳维拉尔角点火升空，向火星进发。

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Although much has been made of Chinese lunar ambitions (a second Chinese probe will be launched in 2011), it is its activities in low Earth orbit and around Mars that will be more interesting.

尽管中国的探月工程成果辉煌(2011年中国将要发射第二个月球探测器)，但人们更感兴趣的是其低地球轨道与探测火星的活动。

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ScienceDaily (July 18, 2011) -nasa's Dawn spacecraft on July 16, 2011 became the first probe ever to enter orbit around an object in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

2011年7月16号，NASA的曙光探测器进入位于火星和木星之间的小行星带，成为进入这一地带的第一个探测器。

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Now NASA is soliciting new proposals for a launch in 2011, arrival at Mars in 2012, and we will re-submit the ARES mission.

NPR: Revisiting the Viking Missions to Mars

Rover mission managers named the outcrop as a tribute to Mars scientist Ronald Greeley (1939-2011), who served as a mission team member and taught planetary science at Arizona State University.

MSN: A stunning close-up of Mars taken by visiting NASA rover

Bidders will have the chance to own items such as a signed tie worn by comedian Ricky Gervais at the Golden Globes 2011 and a tie worn by Bruno Mars on Saturday Night Live.

BBC: Celebrity ties for Scottish charity auction