业余科学家加入月球探测器研发竞争

'Part-Time Scientists' Compete to Put a Rover on Moon 业余科学家加入月球探测器研发竞争

Sixteen teams from around the world have set their sights on the moon... and the $30 million Google Lunar XPRIZE.  The challenge - issued in 2007 - is to land a privately-funded rover on the lunar surface, travel 500 meters, and transmit back high definition video and images - all at a fraction of what a typical NASA mission costs. The German team calls themselves the "Part Time Scientists."

With an adjustable¹ solar panel, three cameras and four sturdy tires, the 'Part Time Scientists' rover looks ready for action. The team has been at work on the rover since 2008, says founder² Robert B?ehme, using components³ originally designed for earth-bound electronics and for satellites.

"Using technology which is kind of not intended to send something to the moon is always very risky⁴, so we have to really slim down everything so that it fits into a less than four tons payload vehicle," said B?ehme.

Cost is a concern, as well, which is one reason the team is making its rover as high-tech⁵ as possible.

"So what we wanted to try to do was to make as much as hi-tech - as you would call - available for space applications, so that you have more processing power for less energy. Energy is the number one constraint⁶ in space. So that really cuts down to our mission costs," said B?ehme.

B?ehme expects their mission cost will be under $30 million. He hopes to secure a contract for a launch vehicle by the end of the year and send the rover on its way by the end of 2017. The 15 other teams in the competition are from Brazil, Canada, Chile, Hungary, Japan, Israel, Italy, Malaysia, India and the United States.

1 adjustable   

adj.可调整的，可校准的

参考例句：

• More expensive cameras have adjustable focusing.比较贵的照相机有可调焦距。
• The chair has the virtue of being adjustable.这种椅子具有可调节的优点。

2 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

3 components   

（机器、设备等的）构成要素，零件，成分； 成分( component的名词复数 )； [物理化学]组分； [数学]分量； （混合物的）组成部分

参考例句：

• the components of a machine 机器部件
• Our chemistry teacher often reduces a compound to its components in lab. 在实验室中化学老师常把化合物分解为各种成分。

4 risky   

adj.有风险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• It may be risky but we will chance it anyhow.这可能有危险，但我们无论如何要冒一冒险。
• He is well aware how risky this investment is.他心里对这项投资的风险十分清楚。

5 high-tech   

adj.高科技的

参考例句：

• The economy is in the upswing which makes high-tech services in more demand too.经济在蓬勃发展，这就使对高科技服务的需求量也在加大。
• The quest of a cure for disease with high-tech has never ceased. 人们希望运用高科技治疗疾病的追求从未停止过。

6 constraint   

n.(on)约束，限制；限制(或约束)性的事物

参考例句：

• The boy felt constraint in her presence.那男孩在她面前感到局促不安。
• The lack of capital is major constraint on activities in the informal sector.资本短缺也是影响非正规部门生产经营的一个重要制约因素。