2007年VOA标准英语-India Hosts International Conference of Space S

By Anjana Pasricha
New Delhi
26 September 2007

A gathering¹ of international scientists in India is highlighting the new capabilities² of Asian nations to reach outer space. As Anjana Pasricha reports, more than 2,000 aerospace³ experts are debating the future direction of space exploration.

Scientists from 45 countries are meeting in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad - 50 years after the former Soviet⁴ Union launched the first man-made satellite, and ushered⁵ in the space age.

 

In the following years, the United States and the Soviet Union were the primary space-faring nations. They were eventually followed by Japan and the European Union.

 

But the week-long conference underlines that much has changed since the Soviet's Sputnik satellite launch. India and China now have big space programs and are the emerging players in the space industry.

 

B.N. Suresh, head of India's Vikram Sarabhai Space Center, says India is using the conference to showcase its capabilities in producing and launching satellites.

 

"India has already established in the space arena⁶, and we are now considered one of the six big space powers," Suresh said. "Particularly this year we have done very well, number of spacecraft we have launched, then we had one commercial launch…. I am sure this would go well with the world space community."

 

The satellite launch industry is expected to grow over the next decade to be worth 190 billion dollars. India and China want to grab a larger slice of the business.

 

The conference this week is exploring ways in which space technology can benefit the common man.

 

For example, experts say satellites can connect villages, and provide farmers with weather data, disaster alerts and market trends. Earth observation satellites can be used to forecast harvests and identify water resources.

 

But Suresh says reducing the cost will be critical in taking space technology to the poor. He says that will be a major focus of space research in India.

 

"You need to bring down the cost of launching a k.g. (kilogram) of satellite. Today it costs anywhere between 15 thousand to 20,000 U.S. dollars to launch one k.g. into any orbit. So if we really want to survive for long, we need to bring down to somewhere between 1,500 and 3,000 U.S. dollars, and we are trying to achieve that in the coming years," Suresh said.

 

Scientists from the United States and Europe are also highlighting the need for greater international cooperation in exploring outer space. They say deep space probes such as expeditions to Mars will require countries to pool their resources in projects such as the International Space Station, being built by U.S., Russia, Japan, Canada and several European countries.

1 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

2 capabilities   

n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力

参考例句：

• He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities. 他有点自大，自视甚高。 来自辞典例句
• Some programmers use tabs to break complex product capabilities into smaller chunks. 一些程序员认为，标签可以将复杂的功能分为每个窗格一组简单的功能。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

3 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。

4 Soviet   

adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃

参考例句：

• Zhukov was a marshal of the former Soviet Union.朱可夫是前苏联的一位元帅。
• Germany began to attack the Soviet Union in 1941.德国在1941年开始进攻苏联。

5 ushered   

v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The secretary ushered me into his office. 秘书把我领进他的办公室。
• A round of parties ushered in the New Year. 一系列的晚会迎来了新年。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 arena   

n.竞技场，运动场所；竞争场所，舞台

参考例句：

• She entered the political arena at the age of 25. 她25岁进入政界。
• He had not an adequate arena for the exercise of his talents.他没有充分发挥其才能的场所。