SA is taking research to new heights -- and lengths -- with an ambitious upcoming mission.

美国航空航天局即将进行一项雄心勃勃的任务，将研究推向新的高度，同时也拓展了研究领域。

ASTHROS (Astrophysics Stratospheric Telescope for High Spectral¹ Resolution Observations at Submillimeter-wavelengths²) is a balloon that will carry a telescope into the stratosphere to study the cosmos³ and "observe wavelengths of light that aren't visible from the ground," NASA says.

美国航空航天局说，ASTHROS（亚毫米波长高光谱分辨率观测的天体物理平流层望远镜）是一个气球，携带望远镜进入平流层研究宇宙，并“观察地面上看不到的波长”。

A gondola⁴ will be used beneath the balloon to carry the instrument as well as the telescope, which is made up of an eight-foot antenna⁵ and several mirrors, lenses and detectors⁶.

气球下面有吊篮，装有器械和望远镜，望远镜上有八英尺天线和几个镜子、透镜和探测器。

To do this successfully, ASTHROS has to hit an altitude of around 130,000 feet (roughly 24.6 miles), which is about four times higher than commercial airliners⁷ fly! As for the dimensions of the balloon itself, it measures 400 feet wide -- about the size of a football stadium, according to the release.

为了成功完成任务，ASTHROS需上升到约130,000英尺（约24.6英里）的高度，比商用客机飞行高度高出四倍！据透露，气球本身400英尺宽，约为一个足球场大小。

The team has put finishing touches on cooling and electronic systems involved, and in August, engineers will perform tests to make sure they run smoothly⁸.

该团队已完成冷却和相关电子系统的收尾工作，工程师们将于8月份进行测试，以确保运行平稳。

NASA says the balloon is expected to make two or three loops around the South Pole in about 21 to 28 days, studying regions in the Milky⁹ Way galaxy¹⁰, newborn stars, nitrogen ions and more.

美国航空航天局说预计这个气球将绕南极两到三圈，耗时约21-28天，研究银河系的区域、新生恒星、氮离子等。

After the mission is completed, operators will send commands that effectively separate the gondola, which is connected to a parachute, from the ballon. The gondola will then fall to the ground so the telescope can be collected and refurbished for future flights.

任务完成后，操作人员将发送指令使吊篮和气球有效分离，吊篮上绑有降落伞。吊篮将着陆，以便收回并翻新望远镜，以备未来之需。