VOA慢速英语2020 SpaceX为美国国防部建造导弹跟踪卫星

SpaceX has been chosen by the U.S. Defense¹ Department to build missile-tracking satellites.

美国国防部已经选择美国太空探索技术公司建造导弹跟踪卫星。

The $149 million contract, or legal agreement, was announced by the U.S. Space Development Agency (SDA) this week. The SDA is an agency under the Department of Defense.

美国太空发展局本周宣布了这项价值1.49亿美元的合同。美国太空发展局是美国国防部下属机构。

It is the first time SpaceX has won a government contract to build satellites. The American aerospace² company is best known for its rockets.

这是美国太空探索技术公司首次赢得政府建造卫星的合同。这家美国航空航天公司以其火箭而闻名。

In May, SpaceX made history by launching two astronauts into space aboard a rocket and spacecraft the company built and operated for NASA.

今年5月，美国太空探索技术公司通过该公司为美国宇航局建造和运营的火箭和航天器将两名宇航员送入太空，创造了历史。

SpaceX has increased its satellite production in recent years for its Starlink network. Starlink is a group of satellites - deployed³ to low-Earth orbit - designed to send internet signals across the world.

美国太空探索技术公司近年来提高了卫星产量用于旗下的星链互联网项目。星链是部署在近地轨道的一群卫星，旨在向全球范围内发送互联网信号。

SpaceX chief Elon Musk⁴ has said he hopes Starlink will make enough money to help pay for the company's space travel goals.

美国太空探索技术公司首席执行官埃隆·马斯克表示，他希望星链项目能够赚到足够资金，用于资助该公司太空旅行目标。

Under the contract, SpaceX will use its Starlink plant in Redmond, Washington, to build four satellites. The satellites will have a special missile-tracking sensor⁵ supplied by another company, an SDA official said.

根据这项合同，美国太空探索技术公司将使用其位于华盛顿州雷德蒙德的星链工厂制造4颗卫星。美国太空发展局官员表示，这些卫星将会装备另一家公司提供的特殊导弹跟踪传感器。

The SDA also awarded a $193 million contract to technology company L3 Harris Technologies Inc. to build four additional satellites.

美国太空发展局还与 L3 Harris 科技公司签订了一项价值1.93亿美元的合同，以建造另外四颗卫星。

Both companies are expected to have the satellites ready for launch by fall 2022.

预计两家公司都将在2022年秋天前做好这些卫星的发射准备。

The awards represent the start of SDA's plan to develop a system of satellites in low-Earth orbit to detect and follow missiles, such as intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). ICBMs can travel long distances and are difficult to follow and intercept⁶, or stop.

这些合同的签署是美国太空发展局计划开发近地轨道卫星系统以检测和跟踪诸如洲际弹道导弹等导弹的开始。洲际弹道导弹可以长途飞行，很难被追踪和拦截。

In 2019, SpaceX won a $28 million contract from the U.S. Air Force. The contract permits the Air Force to use the Starlink satellite network to test encrypted internet services on military planes.

2019年，美国太空探索技术公司从美国空军获得了2800美元的合同。该合同允许空军利用星链卫星网络测试军用飞机上的加密互联网服务。

The Air Force has not ordered any Starlink satellites of its own.

美国空军尚未订购任何自身的星链卫星。

1 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

2 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。

3 deployed   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
• The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。

4 musk   

n.麝香, 能发出麝香的各种各样的植物，香猫

参考例句：

• Musk is used for perfume and stimulant.麝香可以用作香料和兴奋剂。
• She scented her clothes with musk.她用麝香使衣服充满了香味。

5 sensor   

n.传感器，探测设备，感觉器（官）

参考例句：

• The temperature sensor is enclosed in a protective well.温度传感器密封在保护套管中。
• He plugged the sensor into a outlet.他把传感器插进电源插座。

6 intercept   

vt.拦截，截住，截击

参考例句：

• His letter was intercepted by the Secret Service.他的信被特工处截获了。
• Gunmen intercepted him on his way to the airport.持枪歹徒在他去机场的路上截击了他。