Former Astronauts Say Space Exploration Must Continue

Broadcast: Feb 02, 2003

 

The shuttle Columbia astronauts were part of an elite¹ corps² of explorers, which is the frontiers of space. They are mourned by their families, their country and by those of also experienced the dangers of space travel.

The names of many space ¹⁾veterans are now in history books. They know the ²⁾exhilaration of leaving earth's orbit. They also know the risks.

In 1969, Buzz Aldrin was a member of the first American space mission to land on the moon. Neil Armstrong took the initial set of steps on the ³⁾lunar surface. Buzz Aldrin took the second. A colleague urged the White House to have a speech ready just in case the mission failed and the astronauts were lost.

Buzz Aldrin laughs about the old story now. "Well, I think Neil and I both enjoyed being on the moon. But I don't think we would have chosen to stay there," he said.

His face turns somber³ when his attention turns to those who never made it home, the three Apollo astronauts killed in a 1967 launch pad fire, and the crews of two doomed⁴ space shuttles. During an appearance on NBC's Meet the Press, Buzz Aldrin said space exploration must go on.

"We owe it to the people who lost their lives in the Apollo fire, the Challenger and Columbia and all the other contributing losses that have gone in ⁴⁾sacrifice for the future of our space program," he said.

A number of former astronauts shared their thoughts and experiences on Meet the Press Sunday. All struck a common theme when asked about the Columbia crew. It was expressed best by Rick Hauck, a veteran shuttle commander. "They died doing what they wanted to do. I think all of those who died would say, 'don't abandon the cause. Don't let our death be in vain.'"

They saluted⁵ the bravery of the Columbia seven, and offered vivid descriptions of the beauty that draws men and women to space travel, and the dangers they face. ⁵⁾Senator Bill Nelson, a Florida Democrat⁶, took part in a mission on board the shuttle Columbia in 1986.

"You know, on that re-entry, we were on the night side of the earth. And I remember looking out the window, and it was just like day because of the 3,000 degree heat ... and that glow of the underside is coming around the entire craft," he said.

But when asked if he would do it again, Senator Nelson responded with an ⁶⁾emphatic "yes." So did John Glenn, perhaps the best known of all American astronauts.

In 1962, he became the first American to orbit the earth. Thirty-six years later, at the age of 77, he returned to space in a shuttle mission, taking part in experiments on the aging process.

"If NASA said 'we found something, we would like to look at on your body again in space,' would I be willing to go? I'd be down there tomorrow morning," he said.

John Glenn says scientific research is the main reason why the space program must go on. The former U.S. senator, who is now 81, points to decades of discovery. He says the Columbia crew was pushing back the frontiers of knowledge.

Paula Wolfson VOA news, Washington.

1)    veteran[5vetErEn]n.老兵，退伍军人

2)    exhilaration[i^7zilE5reiFEn]n. 令人高兴, 愉快

3)    lunar[5lju:nE]adj. 月的, 月亮的

4)    sacrifice[5sAkrifais]n. 牺牲, 献身

5)    senator[5senEtE]n. 参议员

6)    emphatic[im5fAtik]adj. 语势强的, 用力的, 断然的

 

1 elite   

n.精英阶层；实力集团；adj.杰出的，卓越的

参考例句：

• The power elite inside the government is controlling foreign policy.政府内部的一群握有实权的精英控制着对外政策。
• We have a political elite in this country.我们国家有一群政治精英。

2 corps   

n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组

参考例句：

• The medical corps were cited for bravery in combat.医疗队由于在战场上的英勇表现而受嘉奖。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

3 somber   

adj.昏暗的，阴天的，阴森的，忧郁的

参考例句：

• He had a somber expression on his face.他面容忧郁。
• His coat was a somber brown.他的衣服是暗棕色的。

4 doomed   

命定的

参考例句：

• The court doomed the accused to a long term of imprisonment. 法庭判处被告长期监禁。
• A country ruled by an iron hand is doomed to suffer. 被铁腕人物统治的国家定会遭受不幸的。

5 saluted   

v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂

参考例句：

• The sergeant stood to attention and saluted. 中士立正敬礼。
• He saluted his friends with a wave of the hand. 他挥手向他的朋友致意。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。