经济学人261:充气式宇宙飞船 在轨道上运行时充气膨胀

 　　Science and technology

　　科学技术

　　Inflatable spacecraft

　　充气式宇宙飞船

　　Blown up in orbit

　　在轨道上运行时充气膨胀

　　A plan to use enormous balloons to build space stations

　　一个大量使用气球构建空间站的计划

　　THE International Space Station is mankind's holiday house in the sky.

　　国际空间站是人类的空中度假小屋。

　　Like all such houses, it is a luxury item.

　　它与其他所有类似小屋一样，都是奢侈品。

　　And like many similar projects on Earth, the owners cannot resist tinkering with it.

　　它的所有者会忍不住地想去改进它，就像改进地球上很多类似项目一样。

　　It was in this spirit that, on January 16th, NASA announced that the ISS is to get an extension.

　　本着这样的精神，美国航天航空局在1月16日宣布将扩展国际空间站的空间。

　　This will not, as might have been the case on Earth, be a conservatory¹ or loft² conversion³.

　　这并不会像地球上那样是一个温室或者改装后的阁楼居室，

　　Instead, it will be a BEAM, or Bigelow Expandable Activity Module⁴.

　　而是一个毕格罗可充气活动太空舱。

　　Robert Bigelow, an American hotel entrepreneur and space enthusiast⁵, has for years been pushing the idea that space stations should be made not of metal but of fabric⁶.

　　美国酒店企业家罗伯特·毕格罗是一位太空爱好者，多年来一直在劝人们接受这样的想法—构建空间站应该用织物而不是金属。

　　That would mean they could be folded up for launch and inflated⁷ in orbit.

　　这将意味着，空间站在发射时可以折叠，在轨道上运行时可以充气膨胀。

　　An inflatable space station may sound like the proverbial chocolate teapot,

　　可充气的空间站听起来可能像大家所熟悉的巧克力茶壶。

　　but if you are going to have space stations at all, then inflation is not a bad way of making them.

　　但如果真要建空间站，那么采用膨胀法是个不错的选择。

　　There have been many proposals in the past.

　　过去也曾提出过很多方案。

　　Wernher von Braun, the patriotically⁸ flexible developer of the V2 military rocket and the Saturn⁹ V moon rocket, sketched¹⁰ plans in the 1950s.

　　20世界50年代，沃纳·冯·布劳恩草拟了初步计划。他热爱祖国，灵活变通，为德国开发了V2军用火箭，为美国开发了土星五号卫星火箭。

　　The Goodyear Aircraft Corporation produced mock-ups in the early 1960s.

　　20世纪60年代早期，固特异航空公司生产出了这样的实体模型。

　　In the 1980s the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory came up with a detailed¹¹ space-exploration plan which relied on inflatable craft, thus quickly attracting the nickname brilliant condoms.

　　20世纪80年代，劳伦斯利物莫国家实验室提出了一个空间探索的详细方案，由于以充气式宇宙飞船为载体，因而很快获得了非凡的安全套的昵称。

　　And in the 1990s NASA proposed sending astronauts to Mars in an inflatable craft called TransHab.

　　20世纪90年代，美国航空航天局提议用充气式宇宙飞船TransHab把航天员送上火星。

　　Despite the branding possibilities offered by the Livermore version of the idea, Mr Bigelow and NASA prefer the less evocative term expandable module in their literature.

　　尽管劳伦斯利物莫国家实验室关于充气式宇宙飞船的说法已经提供了品牌价值，但毕格罗和美国航空航天局在资料中更倾向使用可膨胀的太空舱，这个术语比较不会让人产生联想。

　　Regardless of the name, however, making spacecraft and space stations out of fabric offers several advantages over the tin-can approach.

　　但不管取什么名字，比起用锡罐建造宇宙飞船和空间站，用织物建造有几大好处。

　　The most important is weight. Inflatable space stations are lighter¹² than metal ones, and even small savings¹³ in weight make a big difference to launch costs.

　　最关键的是重量。充气式空间站比金属材质的空间站更轻，即使是减轻一点重量也会大大降低发射成本。

　　Expandable modules¹⁴ may be safer, too.

　　膨胀式太空舱可能也更加安全。

　　Ground tests by Bigelow Aerospace¹⁵, Mr Bigelow's vehicle for his orbital ambitions, suggest that the module's walls—thick sandwiches of exotic fabrics¹⁶ such as Vectran and Nomex —offer better protection than metal ones against impacts from micrometeors and the increasing amount of artificial debris¹⁷ that is in orbit around Earth.

　　毕格罗航天公司对毕格罗实现轨道飞行梦的工具进行了地面测试，结果表明：太空舱壁面的厚夹层是由独特的织物制成，如聚芳酯纤维和诺梅克斯。比起金属制造的壁面，织物壁面能提供更好的保护，免受微流星和越来越多绕地球轨道飞行的人造碎片的影响。

　　They are also less likely than metals to generate dangerous secondary radiation when bombarded with things like cosmic rays.

　　在撞击如宇宙射线等东西时，比起金属材质的太空舱，膨胀式太空舱产生二次辐射的可能性更小。

　　That is one reason why NASA was interested in using inflatable craft for the months-long journey to Mars.

　　这也是美国航空航天局对使用充气式宇宙飞船进行长达数月的火星之旅感兴趣的一大原因。

　　Nor is the idea untested.

　　充气式太空舱已经有过测试。

　　In 2006 and 2007 Bigelow launched two unmanned versions, Genesis 1 and Genesis 2.

　　毕格罗分别在2006年和2007年发射了创世纪1号和创世纪2号两架无人驾驶宇宙飞船。

　　BEAM, which will be bolted onto the space station in 2015, if all goes well, will be the last test of the technology before the launch of the firm's intended commercial product, the BA-330.

　　毕格罗可充气活动太空舱将于2015年装在空间站上。如果一切进展顺利，毕格罗可充气活动太空舱将是该公司发射预期商业产品BA-330太空舱之前的最后一次技术测试。

　　This will offer 330 cubic metres of internal space.

　　充气式太空舱将提供330立方米的舱内空间。

　　At the moment the ISS has a volume of 916 cubic metres.

　　目前国际太空站的体积为916立方米。

　　The firm plans to launch two BA-330s in 2016, link them together in orbit, and thus create a station with 70% of the pressurised volume of the ISS for a fraction of the cost.

　　毕格罗航天公司计划将于2016年发射两个BA-330太空舱，并在轨道上相互连接，从而能用国际空间站增压体积的70%建造一个空间站，费用也是之前建造的一小部分。

　　This first station, dubbed¹⁸ the Alpha Station, will be equipped with laboratory equipment, workbenches and the like.

　　第一个这样的空间站也叫A空间站，将配备实验室仪器和工作台等诸如此类的设备。

　　Bigelow hopes to offer 60 days aboard it for around 26m, assuming that its guests make the trip into orbit on one of the cheap rockets provided by SpaceX, another private space company.

　　毕格罗希望能够提供费用约为2,600万美元在空间站呆60天的服务，假设旅客到轨道乘坐的是由私人太空公司SpaceX提供的廉价火箭。

　　Bigelow hopes in particular to win business from governments without big space programmes of their own.

　　比格罗特别希望能从没有大型空间项目的政府手中赢得业务。

　　To that end it has memoranda¹⁹ of understanding with several, including those of Britain, Japan and the Netherlands.

　　为此，毕格罗航天公司与几国政府签署了谅解备忘录，其中包括英国、日本和荷兰。

　　It is also wooing the private sector²⁰, though that may prove tricky²¹.

　　该公司也在寻求私营部门的支持，尽管这可能需要技巧。

　　There has long been talk of the advantages of zero gravity for manufacturing specialised materials whose components²² are of very different densities²³, and for growing specialised protein crystals for examination by pharmaceutical²⁴ companies.

　　长久以来，大家一直都在谈论在失重的情况下，制造组件密度差异很大的特殊材料和培育特殊蛋白质晶体用于制药公司检查的好处。

　　This was, indeed, one of the sales pitches for the ISS. Unfortunately, the private sector stayed away in droves, and the scientific output of the ISS has been pitiful.

　　这实际上是国际空间站的推销说辞。大批私营部门都不参与，而国际空间站的研究成果也是少得可怜。

　　If renting the Alpha Station out as a laboratory does not work, there is always the option of turning it into a holiday house.

　　如果不能把A空间站租出用作实验室，那么可以选择把它改成度假屋。

　　Given Mr Bigelow's background, it is often assumed that this is the plan anyway.

　　考虑到毕格罗的背景资料，人们常常会认为，这至少也是个方案。

　　The firm insists that it is not, at least for now.

　　毕格罗航天公司却不赞同，认为至少现在不是。

　　But who will really be interested in paying 26m to go into orbit remains²⁵ to be seen.

　　但究竟谁会对花2,600万美元进入轨道感兴趣，目前还不得而知。

　　Inflated space stations are fine, as long as they do not lead to inflated expectations.

　　只要充气式空间站能与预期效果相符，那充气式空间站还是很不错的。

　　1.space station 太空站；航天站；宇宙空间站

　　China aims to finish its space station by 2020.

　　中国目标在2020年建成中国空间站。

　　Subsequent shenzhou missions are expected to focus on building a space station.

　　接下来的“神州”计划预期将重点建设一个太空站。

　　2.fold up 不能支撑；倒塌；垮掉

　　They are the same porsche design that fold up.

　　他们是相同的保时捷设计，折叠起来。

　　Most umbrellas fold up, so it's easy to carry them.

　　大部分的伞可折叠，所以携带方便。

　　3.come up with 追赶上；比得上；想出；准备好

　　To come up with more creative and innovative²⁶ designs?

　　还是想出更原创性和革新性的设计？

　　Others strive to come up with something a little different.

　　其他人力图想出些有点不同的名字。

　　4.propose to 求婚；对…提出建议

　　This is, of course, but a single result-and supporters of inflation do not propose to give up without a fight.

　　当然，这不是单独一个结果，并且膨胀理论的支持者不打算不战而降。

　　How did you propose to your wife?

　　你是怎样向你妻子求婚的？

1 conservatory   

n.温室，音乐学院；adj.保存性的，有保存力的

参考例句：

• At the conservatory,he learned how to score a musical composition.在音乐学校里，他学会了怎样谱曲。
• The modern conservatory is not an environment for nurturing plants.这个现代化温室的环境不适合培育植物。

2 loft   

n.阁楼，顶楼

参考例句：

• We could see up into the loft from bottom of the stairs.我们能从楼梯脚边望到阁楼的内部。
• By converting the loft,they were able to have two extra bedrooms.把阁楼改造一下，他们就可以多出两间卧室。

3 conversion   

n.转化，转换，转变

参考例句：

• He underwent quite a conversion.他彻底变了。
• Waste conversion is a part of the production process.废物处理是生产过程的一个组成部分。

4 module   

n.组件，模块，模件；(航天器的)舱

参考例句：

• The centre module displays traffic guidance information.中央模块显示交通引导信息。
• Two large tanks in the service module held liquid oxygen.服务舱的两个大气瓶中装有液态氧。

5 enthusiast   

n.热心人，热衷者

参考例句：

• He is an enthusiast about politics.他是个热衷于政治的人。
• He was an enthusiast and loved to evoke enthusiasm in others.他是一个激情昂扬的人，也热中于唤起他人心中的激情。

6 fabric   

n.织物，织品，布；构造，结构，组织

参考例句：

• The fabric will spot easily.这种织品很容易玷污。
• I don't like the pattern on the fabric.我不喜欢那块布料上的图案。

7 inflated   

adj.（价格）飞涨的；（通货）膨胀的；言过其实的；充了气的v.使充气（于轮胎、气球等）( inflate的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）膨胀；（使）通货膨胀；物价上涨

参考例句：

• He has an inflated sense of his own importance. 他自视过高。
• They all seem to take an inflated view of their collective identity. 他们对自己的集体身份似乎都持有一种夸大的看法。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 patriotically   

爱国地；忧国地

参考例句：

• Patriotically, he buys only U.S.-made products. 他很爱国，只买美国生产的商品。
• What follows is a guide to spending and saving, both sensibly and patriotically. 下面是既聪明又爱国的有关消费和储蓄的指导。

9 Saturn   

n.农神，土星

参考例句：

• Astronomers used to ask why only Saturn has rings.天文学家们过去一直感到奇怪，为什么只有土星有光环。
• These comparisons suggested that Saturn is made of lighter materials.这些比较告诉我们，土星由较轻的物质构成。

10 sketched   

v.草拟（sketch的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• The historical article sketched the major events of the decade. 这篇有关历史的文章概述了这十年中的重大事件。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He sketched the situation in a few vivid words. 他用几句生动的语言简述了局势。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

11 detailed   

adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的

参考例句：

• He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
• A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。

12 lighter   

n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级

参考例句：

• The portrait was touched up so as to make it lighter.这张画经过润色，色调明朗了一些。
• The lighter works off the car battery.引燃器利用汽车蓄电池打火。

13 savings   

n.存款，储蓄

参考例句：

• I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
• By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。

14 modules   

n.模块( module的名词复数 )；单元；（宇宙飞船上各个独立的）舱；组件

参考例句：

• The course consists of ten core modules and five optional modules. 这门课程包括十个必修单元和五个选修单元。
• Our English course is divided into modules on poetry, drama, and novels. 我们的英语课分为诗歌、戏剧和小说等单元。 来自《简明英汉词典》

15 aerospace   

adj.航空的，宇宙航行的

参考例句：

• The world's entire aerospace industry is feeling the chill winds of recession.全世界的航空航天工业都感受到了经济衰退的寒意。
• Edward Murphy was an aerospace engineer for the US Army.爱德华·墨菲是一名美军的航宇工程师。

16 fabrics   

织物( fabric的名词复数 )； 布； 构造； （建筑物的）结构（如墙、地面、屋顶）：质地

参考例句：

• cotton fabrics and synthetics 棉织物与合成织物
• The fabrics are merchandised through a network of dealers. 通过经销网点销售纺织品。

17 debris   

n.瓦砾堆，废墟，碎片

参考例句：

• After the bombing there was a lot of debris everywhere.轰炸之后到处瓦砾成堆。
• Bacteria sticks to food debris in the teeth,causing decay.细菌附着在牙缝中的食物残渣上，导致蛀牙。

18 dubbed   

v.给…起绰号( dub的过去式和过去分词 )；把…称为；配音；复制

参考例句：

• Mathematics was once dubbed the handmaiden of the sciences. 数学曾一度被视为各门科学的基础。
• Is the movie dubbed or does it have subtitles? 这部电影是配音的还是打字幕的？ 来自《简明英汉词典》

19 memoranda   

n. 备忘录, 便条 名词memorandum的复数形式

参考例句：

• There were memoranda, minutes of meetings, officialflies, notes of verbal di scussions. 有备忘录，会议记录，官方档案，口头讨论的手记。
• Now it was difficult to get him to address memoranda. 而现在，要他批阅备忘录都很困难。

20 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

21 tricky   

adj.狡猾的，奸诈的；(工作等)棘手的，微妙的

参考例句：

• I'm in a rather tricky position.Can you help me out?我的处境很棘手，你能帮我吗？
• He avoided this tricky question and talked in generalities.他回避了这个非常微妙的问题，只做了个笼统的表述。

22 components   

（机器、设备等的）构成要素，零件，成分； 成分( component的名词复数 )； [物理化学]组分； [数学]分量； （混合物的）组成部分

参考例句：

• the components of a machine 机器部件
• Our chemistry teacher often reduces a compound to its components in lab. 在实验室中化学老师常把化合物分解为各种成分。

23 densities   

密集( density的名词复数 )； 稠密； 密度（固体、液体或气体单位体积的质量）； 密度（磁盘存贮数据的可用空间）

参考例句：

• The range of densities of interest is about 3.5. 有用的密度范围为3．5左右。
• Densities presumably can be probed by radar. 利用雷达也许还能探测出气体的密度。

24 pharmaceutical   

adj.药学的，药物的；药用的，药剂师的

参考例句：

• She has donated money to establish a pharmaceutical laboratory.她捐款成立了一个药剂实验室。
• We are engaged in a legal tussle with a large pharmaceutical company.我们正同一家大制药公司闹法律纠纷。

25 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

26 innovative   

adj.革新的，新颖的，富有革新精神的

参考例句：

• Discover an innovative way of marketing.发现一个创新的营销方式。
• He was one of the most creative and innovative engineers of his generation.他是他那代人当中最富创造性与革新精神的工程师之一。