太阳系探测的进展与比较行星学的主要科学问题

Advances in the exploration of the solar system and key aspects of comparative planetology

回顾了太阳系的探测历程,综合分析了太阳系探测的发展趋势。未来的太阳系探测将以月球与火星探测为主线,适度开展太阳系其他行星及其卫星、小行星和彗星的考察性探测。21世纪将是全面探测太阳系并为人类社会长期可持续发展服务的新时代。随着太阳系探测的进展,通过系统比较地球与类地行星的大气层与水体的形成演化过程、地形地貌与地质构造特征、岩石类型、热历史与内部结构等方面的共性与特性研究,表明行星的质量大小和行星与太阳的距离的相互耦合,制约了行星的形成和演化的复杂过程。比较行星学已成为指导太阳系探测的科学理论体系。

The 21st century is a new era for the exploration of the solar system and for the sustainable development of human societies. On reviewing the solar system＇s exploration histories and studying its developmental policies, the author points out that future exploration will focus on the Moon and Mars, with somewhat lesser activity on other planets, asteroids and comets. With the ongoing exploration of the solar system, more and more data are acquired providing us with the opportunity to study and compare systematically the formation and evolution of atmosphere, hydrosphere, planetary surfaces geological structures, magmatic rocks, thermal history and inner structure of the Earth and other terrestrial planets. The author points out the complex interactions of mass, size and distance between planets and the sun, which control the formation and evolution of planets. The author concludes that comparative planetology has become an important science discipline for guiding exploration strategies of the solar system.