VOA标准英语2009年-NASA Tests Rocket for Planned Moon, Mars M

By Brian Wagner
Miami
28 October 2009

 
The Ares I-X flight test vehicle lifts off from Launch Complex 39B at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, 28 Oct 2009
NASA launched an unmanned test rocket on Wednesday in the hopes it will become the backbone¹ of a new program to send astronauts to the moon and Mars. The Ares program aims to launch with humans onboard by 2015, but budget concerns are threatening its future. 

The 100-meter long Ares I-X rocket lifted off and rose 45 kilometers above the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, before falling back to the Earth. Engineers monitored dozens of cameras and onboard sensors² as the rocket thundered into the sky.

"Now passing Mach 2 [680.58 meters/second]," said the mission controller. "The vehicle is now 10 miles [16 kilometers] altitude."

As designed, the motors burned for two minutes, then the rocket separated into two segments that fell into the Atlantic Ocean. NASA crews deployed³ to collect the solid rocket motors for inspection⁴.

Engineers say the launch was a valuable opportunity to study the design and construction of the rocket, which is the first new vehicle to launch at the Kennedy Space Center in nearly 30 years.

Bob Ess directs the Ares I-X test flight team.

"Everything was just how we expected," said Bob Ess. "It was just like the animations⁵ we have been showing; it flew at the same speed and the same distance. It just looked much more spectacular in person than it did in planning."

The Ares rocket is a key part of the Constellation⁶ program that was announced by President George Bush in 2004. The $60 billion plan was intended to rejuvenate⁷ the U.S. space flight program and enable astronauts to return to the moon and eventually land on Mars.

But President Barack Obama has ordered a review of NASA's plans, amid concerns about rising costs. An independent panel has said the current budget will not support the agency's goals, suggesting some missions may need to be dropped.

NASA officials say they will continue advancing work on Constellation until the White House makes a decision on whether to change it.

Constellation program manager Jeff Hanley says the Ares test shows that NASA agency is on the right track.

"We have a design that will do the country service, if it is put into service," said Jeff Hanley. "The performance of the vehicle was very pleasing, to put it mildly."

Current plans call for NASA to end the space shuttle program next year, in part, to help finance development of Constellation. The first manned flight of Ares would not be until at least 2015.

Space agency officials say the break in manned U.S. space flights is unfortunate, but necessary to develop the technology that will carry astronauts into the next generation of space exploration.

NASA's associate administrator⁸ for exploration, Doug Cooke, says the Ares test is one step toward that goal.

"There is definite interest in going beyond low-Earth orbit to discover new things in the solar system," said Doug Cooke. "This is really the first big step we have taken in that direction in a long time."

After the Ares test, Cooke says, one of the next big hurdles⁹ is to build the Orion module¹⁰ that will sit atop the rocket and carry astronauts into space. 

1 backbone   

n.脊骨，脊柱，骨干；刚毅，骨气

参考例句：

• The Chinese people have backbone.中国人民有骨气。
• The backbone is an articulate structure.脊椎骨是一种关节相连的结构。

2 sensors   

n.传感器，灵敏元件( sensor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There were more than 2000 sensors here. 这里装有两千多个灵敏元件。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Significant changes have been noted where sensors were exposed to trichloride. 当传感器暴露在三氯化物中时，有很大变化。 来自辞典例句

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 inspection   

n.检查，审查，检阅

参考例句：

• On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查，发现肉变质了。
• The soldiers lined up for their daily inspection by their officers.士兵们列队接受军官的日常检阅。

5 animations   

n.生气( animation的名词复数 )；兴奋；动画片；（指电影、录像、电脑游戏的）动画制作

参考例句：

• You'll see your team cheerleaders and mascot performing new animations as well. 你会看到啦啦队队长跟吉祥物也都会有全新的动作。 来自互联网
• Ability to create simple movie and animations using graphic & multimedia software. 能够用平面和多媒体软件制作简单的电影及动画。 来自互联网

6 constellation   

n.星座n.灿烂的一群

参考例句：

• A constellation is a pattern of stars as seen from the earth. 一个星座只是从地球上看到的某些恒星的一种样子。
• The Big Dipper is not by itself a constellation. 北斗七星本身不是一个星座。

7 rejuvenate   

v.(使)返老还童；(使)恢复活力

参考例句：

• The mountain air will rejuvenate you.山里的空气会使你恢复活力。
• Exercise is perhaps the most effective way to rejuvenate your skin.锻炼可能是使皮肤恢复活力的最好手段。

8 administrator   

n.经营管理者，行政官员

参考例句：

• The role of administrator absorbed much of Ben's energy.行政职务耗掉本很多精力。
• He has proved himself capable as administrator.他表现出管理才能。

9 hurdles   

n.障碍( hurdle的名词复数 )；跳栏；（供人或马跳跃的）栏架；跨栏赛

参考例句：

• In starting a new company, many hurdles must be crossed. 刚开办一个公司时，必须克服许多障碍。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• There are several hurdles to be got over in this project. 在这项工程中有一些困难要克服。 来自辞典例句

10 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。