中国空间科学技术

中国空间科学技术 ›› 2025, Vol. 45 ›› Issue (4): 1-11.doi: 10.16708/j.cnki.1000-758X.2025.0053

• 冰巨星探测专题 •    下一篇

冰巨星探测的前沿科学问题

王赤1,2,*，李晖1,2,*，孔大力2,3，王宇贤1，杨忠炜1   

  1. 1.中国科学院 国家空间科学中心，北京100190
    2.中国科学院大学，北京101408
    3.中国科学院 上海天文台，上海200030
  • 收稿日期:2024-12-20 修回日期:2025-01-10 录用日期:2025-01-22 发布日期:2025-07-22 出版日期:2025-08-01

Cutting-edge scientific issues in ice giant exploration

WANG Chi1,2,*，LI Hui1,2,*，KONG Dali2,3，WANG Yuxian1，YANG Zhongwei1   

  1. 1.National Space Science Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
    2.University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101408, China
    3.Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200030, China
  • Received:2024-12-20 Revision received:2025-01-10 Accepted:2025-01-22 Online:2025-07-22 Published:2025-08-01

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摘要： 对冰巨星及其卫星的探索一直是深空探测和空间科学研究的前沿热点，目前国际行星探测规划均将冰巨星探测列为重点方向。聚焦中国未来冰巨星探测任务，考察了冰巨星探测的国内外现状，梳理和归纳了冰巨星探测的七大前沿科学问题。围绕这些科学问题，通过冰巨星系统特性的对比分析，结合行星探测的发展趋势，提出了未来冰巨星探测的展望和建议，并指出海王星-海卫一探测是冰巨星探测任务的首选。未来探测的科学主题可大致分为三个方面：探索地外海洋和生命；认知柯伊伯带天体，理解太阳系演化；探索冰巨星系统，理解行星起源与演化。对冰巨星探测科学目标的论证分析，能够为中国未来深空探测任务提供科学参考。

关键词: 冰巨星, 天王星, 海王星, 海卫一, 行星探测

Abstract: Exploring ice giants and their moons stands as one of the frontiers in deep space exploration and space science research. Current international planetary exploration plans all include missions to ice giants. Focusing on China’s future ice giant exploration missions, the current status of ice giant exploration is investigated, and seven key scientific questions are identified and summarized. By comparing and analyzing the characteristics of ice giant systems, and combining with the development trends in planetary exploration, the prospects and recommendations for future ice giant missions are proposed. Neptune-Triton exploration as a priority for ice giant missions is highlighted. Future exploration can be broadly divided into three subjects: exploring extraterrestrial oceans and life, understanding Kuiper belt objects and solar system evolution, and investigating ice giant systems to understand planetary origins and evolution. Analyzing the scientific objectives for ice giant exploration provides a scientific reference for China’s future deep space missions.

Key words: ice giants, Uranus, Neptune, Triton, planetary exploration