VOA标准英语2010-Obama Lays Out Plan for US Space Program

President Barack Obama on Thursday set out his plan for the future of the U.S. space agency NASA.  His vision includes an eventual¹ manned flight to Mars, although not as soon as many Americans had hoped. The president went to Florida's Kennedy Space Center to defend his controversial proposal to change America's course in space.

President Obama says he wants American space exploration to "leap into the future," and not continue on the same path. "By the mid-2030s, I believe we can send humans to orbit Mars and return them safely to earth, and a landing on Mars will follow, and I expect to be around to see it," he said.

At the Kennedy Space Center, where U.S. space missions begin, Mr. Obama unveiled his proposal for the future of NASA beyond the end of the space shuttle program, which has only three flights remaining.

The president's plan would give private companies almost $6 billion to build their own spacecraft and fly them to the International Space Station.  It would also extend the station's life by five years.

Billions of dollars more would be put into research for developing new NASA rockets for space missions that eventually would lead to a manned mission to Mars.  The plan replaces former President George W. Bush's Constellation² program that would have taken astronauts back to the Moon and then to the Red Planet.

Mr. Obama says his approach will for allow more and better space exploration. "We will actually reach space faster and more often under this new plan, in ways that will help us improve our technological³ capacity and lower our costs, which are essential for the long-term sustainability of space flight," he said.

The president has been sharply criticized by some lawmakers and former astronauts for canceling plans to return to the Moon.

In the House of Representatives, Republican Congressman⁴ Rob Bishop⁵ says scrapping⁶ lunar missions will hurt U.S. defense⁷. "Rockets that are built to send a guy to the Moon are built by the same kinds of people who build the rockets to stop a North Korean or Iranian or some other rogue⁸ missile from coming into this country," he said.

The first man to walk on the Moon, Neil Armstrong, and other former Apollo program astronauts Jim Lovell and Eugene Cernan, are also criticizing Mr. Obama's decision.  In a letter to the media, the three write that "America must decide if it wishes to remain a leader in space."

Armstrong's Apollo 11 crewmate, Buzz Aldrin, supports Mr. Obama's decision.  He traveled with the president on Air Force One to Thursday's appearance at Cape⁹ Canaveral.

Mr. Obama said he is 100 percent committed to NASA's mission and future, and that he wants U.S. space exploration to reach beyond the Moon. "We have been there before.  Buzz has been there.  There is a lot more of space to explore and a lot more to learn when we do," he said.

Mr. Obama was the first sitting president in 12 years to visit the Kennedy Space Center.  He said space exploration is not a luxury, but a necessity for America.
 

1 eventual   

adj.最后的，结局的，最终的

参考例句：

• Several schools face eventual closure.几所学校面临最终关闭。
• Both parties expressed optimism about an eventual solution.双方对问题的最终解决都表示乐观。

2 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。

3 technological   

adj.技术的；工艺的

参考例句：

• A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.一家成功的公司必须得跟上技术变革的步伐。
• Today,the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements.当今， 随着科技进步，生活节奏不断增快。

4 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。

5 bishop   

n.主教，（国际象棋）象

参考例句：

• He was a bishop who was held in reverence by all.他是一位被大家都尊敬的主教。
• Two years after his death the bishop was canonised.主教逝世两年后被正式封为圣者。

6 scrapping   

刮，切除坯体余泥

参考例句：

• He was always scrapping at school. 他在学校总打架。
• These two dogs are always scrapping. 这两条狗总是打架。

7 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。

8 rogue   

n.流氓；v.游手好闲

参考例句：

• The little rogue had his grandpa's glasses on.这淘气鬼带上了他祖父的眼镜。
• They defined him as a rogue.他们确定他为骗子。

9 cape   

n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风

参考例句：

• I long for a trip to the Cape of Good Hope.我渴望到好望角去旅行。
• She was wearing a cape over her dress.她在外套上披着一件披肩。