VOA慢速英语2021 中国发射可捕捉太空碎片的机器人

A Chinese space mining company has designed a robot that can capture waste material left behind by spacecraft in outer space with a big net.

一家中国太空采矿公司设计了一种机器人，它可以通过一张大网捕获航天器在外太空留下的废弃物质。

The state-run Xinhua news agency recently reported that the robot launched on the government's Long March 6 rocket along with several satellites. The robot will also investigate deep space to observe small objects in the universe.

中国官方媒体新华社最近报道称，该机器人连同几颗卫星一起搭载中国政府的长征6号火箭发射升空。该机器人还将调查远太空以观测宇宙中的小天体。

The 30-kilogram robot, called NEO-01, was developed by Origin Space. The company says the robot will lead the way for future technologies capable of mining on asteroids².

这个重量为30公斤的NEO-01机器人是由起源太空公司（深圳）开发的。该公司表示，这个机器人将为未来的小行星采矿技术引路。

The world's first asteroid¹ mining company, Planetary Resources, was established in 2009. Since then, more than 12 businesses around the world have entered the industry, including 3D Systems of the United States and Japan's Astroscale.

世界上第一家小行星采矿公司Planetary Resources成立于2009年。自那时起，全球有12家企业进入了该行业，其中包括美国的3D Systems和日本的Astroscale。

Astroscale's technology uses magnets to gather up space waste. But a report on the Origin Space website says NEO-01 will use a net to capture waste and then burn it.

Astroscale公司的技术利用磁铁来收集太空垃圾。但是起源太空公司网站上的一份报告称，NEO-01将使用一张大网来捕捉太空垃圾并将它们（送入大气层）烧掉。

Thousands of satellites have been launched worldwide. As they outlive their use, many end up as waste and put other operating satellites at risk.

全球已经发射了成千上万颗卫星。随着它们的寿命超出使用期限，大多数最终会成为太空垃圾，并让其它运营状态的卫星处于危险之中。

Su Meng is the founder³ of Origin Space. He said the company plans to launch many space telescopes and more spacecraft to begin the first for-profit mining of asteroids by 2045.

苏萌是起源太空公司的创始人。他说，该公司计划发射许多太空望远镜，以及更多航天器，以便在2045年之前启动首次营利性质的小行星采矿。

The Xinhua news agency reported that China was increasing efforts to land a spacecraft on a near-Earth asteroid to collect materials. China is also speeding up a plan to build a defense⁴ system against near-Earth asteroids.

新华社报道称，中国正在加大努力让航天器登陆近地小行星以收集材料。中国也正在加快建设近地小行星防御系统的计划。

The country aims to follow Russia and the United States in becoming a major space power by 2030.

中国的目标是在2030年之前，成为继俄罗斯和美国之后的主要太空大国。

1 asteroid   

n.小行星；海盘车(动物)

参考例句：

• Astronomers have yet to witness an asteroid impact with another planet.天文学家还没有目击过小行星撞击其它行星。
• It's very unlikely that an asteroid will crash into Earth but the danger exists.小行星撞地球的可能性很小，但这样的危险还是存在的。

2 asteroids   

n.小行星( asteroid的名词复数 )；海盘车，海星

参考例句：

• Asteroids,also known as "minor planets",are numerous in the outer space. 小行星，亦称为“小型行星”，在外太空中不计其数。
• Most stars probably have their quota of planets, meteorids, comets, and asteroids. 多数恒星也许还拥有若干行星、流星、彗星和小行星。

3 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。

4 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。