VOA常速英语2019--机遇号光荣退役

No one at NASA would have ever hoped that the Martian rover Opportunity onboard this Delta¹ rocket launched in 2004 for a three-month mission would end up trundling across the Martian surface for more than a decade. You know, this was a 90-day mission, and we were so excited by just having three months to explore the planet with just a kilometer of capability². But fourteen and a half years later and 45 kilometers of a geometry, we’ve done phenomenal things. We’ve greatly expanded our understanding of the red planet, like finding these blue hematite spheres proved that Mars once had liquid water on its surface.

美国宇航局（NASA）之中没有任何人曾料想过飞往火星的机遇号探测器，也就是2004年搭载这枚德尔塔火箭发射的探测器能超出3个月的任务期限，最后在火星表面运行了10年多的时间。这是任务期限是90天，我们都很高兴能有3个月时间探索火星，哪怕1公里也好。但14年半过去了，探索历程达到了45公里，我们实现了惊人的发现，我们极大地扩充了对火星这颗红色星体的了解——比如找到这些蓝色赤铁矿球体，以及证明火星表面曾经有液态水。

And it might have gone for another 14 years if not for a run-in with a massive Martian storm. Well, back in June, we were afflicted⁴ by a historic global dust storm on Mars had just blackened the skies over the rover and starved the rover for energy and the rover went silent. And we tried valiantly⁵ over these last eight months to try to recover the rover to get some signal from it. But no signal came, so after 14 years and a meandering⁶ 45 kilometer route across the Martian surface, NASA finally decided⁷ Opportunity was gone. It is therefore that I’m standing³ here with a sense of deep appreciation⁸ and gratitude⁹ that I declare the Opportunity mission as complete.

而且机遇号或许可以再运行另一个14年，只是它遭遇了火星的大型尘暴。6月的时候，我们受到了火星上一次历史性的全球尘暴，这次尘暴遮天蔽日，让机遇号无法获得能量，所以停止了工作。过去8个月间，我们积极尝试，想要恢复机遇号的运作，想要重新获得机遇号发出的信号。但最终也没有信号传来，所以，在历时14年，在火星表面运行了45公里后，NASA最终判定机遇号退役了。因此，我现在站在这里，带着深沉的感谢和感激之情地宣布，机遇号探测器任务已完成。

And with it, the Mars exploration rover mission has complete. I stand here surrounded by the team and I have to tell you that’s an emotional time. So long opportunity gone, but not forgotten. Someday perhaps, if humans ever find their way to Mars, they’ll go looking for the little rover that could and did for nearly 15 years.

这句话标志着机遇号任务的结束。我周围站着我们的研究组，我必须要告诉大家，这是让人动情的一刻。机遇号运行了这么久，但我们未曾将它忘怀。或许有朝一日，如果人类能找到方法去往火星的时候，他们会寻找这个小小的探测器，这个坚持了15年的探测器。

1 delta   

n.（流的）角洲

参考例句：

• He has been to the delta of the Nile.他曾去过尼罗河三角洲。
• The Nile divides at its mouth and forms a delta.尼罗河在河口分岔，形成了一个三角洲。

2 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

3 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

4 afflicted   

使受痛苦，折磨( afflict的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• About 40% of the country's population is afflicted with the disease. 全国40%左右的人口患有这种疾病。
• A terrible restlessness that was like to hunger afflicted Martin Eden. 一阵可怕的、跟饥饿差不多的不安情绪折磨着马丁·伊登。

5 valiantly   

adv.勇敢地，英勇地；雄赳赳

参考例句：

• He faced the enemy valiantly, shuned no difficulties and dangers and would not hesitate to lay down his life if need be. 他英勇对敌，不避艰险，赴汤蹈火在所不计。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Murcertach strove valiantly to meet the new order of things. 面对这个新事态，默克塔克英勇奋斗。 来自辞典例句

6 meandering   

蜿蜒的河流，漫步，聊天

参考例句：

• The village seemed deserted except for small boys and a meandering donkey. 整个村子的人都像是逃光了，只留下了几个小男孩和一头正在游游荡荡的小毛驴。 来自教父部分
• We often took a walk along the meandering river after supper. 晚饭后我们常沿着那条弯弯曲曲的小河散步。

7 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

8 appreciation   

n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨

参考例句：

• I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to you all.我想对你们所有人表达我的感激和谢意。
• I'll be sending them a donation in appreciation of their help.我将送给他们一笔捐款以感谢他们的帮助。

9 gratitude   

adj.感激，感谢

参考例句：

• I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
• She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。