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VOA慢速英语2010-EXPLORATIONS - New Plan for NASA Aims Bey

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BARBARA KLEIN: I’m Barbara Klein.

STEVE EMBER: And I’m Steve Ember with EXPLORATIONS in VOA Special English. This week on our program, we tell you about the new goals that President Obama is proposing for the space agency NASA. The plans include a decision earlier this year to cancel a program to return to the moon.

(MUSIC)

The International Space Station as seen by the space shuttle crew during one of the program's last missions earlier this month

BARBARA KLEIN: But before we hear about the new direction for the National Aeronautics2 and Space Administration, we take a look back.

HARRISON SCHMITT: "Okay. I'm going to get the pro1. Ninety-nine. Proceeded three, two, one ... "

HARRISON SCHMITT: "Ignition."

EURGENE CERNAN: "We're on our way, Houston!"

HARRISON SCHMITT: "Rates are good. AGS saw it ... "

Those were the voices of Harrison Schmitt and Eugene Cernan, astronauts on the flight of Apollo Seventeen. They had spent three days on the moon. Now they were on their way home. The date was December fourteenth, nineteen seventy-two.

Harrison Schmitt took this photo of Eugene Cernan. The two were the last astronauts on the moon

In the close to forty years since, no one has set foot on the moon. Back then, there was much hope that humans would return soon and make a home on Earth’s only natural satellite.

Harrison Schmitt talked about the moon landings of the Apollo program as a historic beginning to greater exploration.

HARRISON SCHMITT: "This valley of history has seen mankind complete its first evolutionary3 steps into the universe: leaving the planet Earth and going forward into the universe. I think no more significant contribution has Apollo made to history. It's not often that you can foretell4 history, but I think we can in this case."

STEVE EMBER: But those hopes of human exploration deeper into space gave way to goals closer to home.

(SOUND: First Space Shuttle Launch)

The space shuttle has been NASA's manned launch vehicle since the first launch on April twelfth, nineteen eighty-one. The shuttle program has played an important part in expanding space science. Shuttle crews placed the Hubble Space Telescope into orbit. They also performed five missions to repair and improve the observatory5.

Shuttles have lifted numerous scientific instruments, observatories6, satellites and probes into space. The largest object ever put into space -- the International Space Station -- could not have been built without the shuttle program.

BARBARA KLEIN: But after more than one hundred thirty flights, the space shuttles are being retired7 this year. That worries community leaders on the Space Coast -- the area around the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. They say ending the program will cost the area seven thousand jobs.

Some veterans of the Apollo program are unhappy for other reasons.

Jim Lovell flew on Apollo Thirteen. It was launched on April eleventh, nineteen seventy. But an explosion in space cost him the chance to reach the moon -- and nearly cost the crew their lives. Jim Lovell talked about the current situation at NASA during an event to mark the fortieth anniversary of Apollo Thirteen.

JIM LOVELL: "They’re looking at putting money into various programs at NASA but not having any goals. Not having anything that they’re striving for. Not going back to the moon or trying to go to Mars, or anything else."

STEVE EMBER: To answer such concerns, President Obama went to the Kennedy Space Center. On April fifteenth he gave a speech in which he discussed his goals for space travel.

He defended his decision to end the Constellation8 program that NASA began under former President George W. Bush. The immediate9 goal of the program was to return Americans to the moon by twenty twenty. The aim was to recreate the success of the Apollo program, mainly based on existing technologies.

But President Obama said the Constellation program was over budget and behind schedule, and it lacked in new thinking.

BARACK OBAMA: "The point is, that what we are looking for is not just to continue on the same path, we want to leap into the future. We want major breakthroughs, a transformative agenda for NASA."

President Obama at the Kennedy Space Center after defending his new space policy this month

BARBARA KLEIN: The president's plan includes adding six billion dollars to NASA's budget over five years. That money would go to using private companies to carry astronauts to the International Space Station. The idea is for NASA to buy services for space transportation, rather than spacecraft with existing designs.

The goal is to support a private space transportation industry that makes it easier and less costly10 to reach space. The administration says a new private space industry could create ten thousand new jobs across the country in five years.

This is a big change from earlier models where NASA led and controlled the development of space vehicles. John Logsdon is a member of NASA's advisory11 council. He says private industry has been waiting for this kind of message.

JOHN LOGSDON: "This approach is a signal to the private space community that they can look to government partnerships12, government as a user, or even government as an investment partner as they go forward."

STEVE EMBER: Yet depending on private space companies has its risks. Right now, few companies have rockets that are able to lift people into space.

The United Launch Alliance brings together two companies. Boeing and Lockheed Martin have carried tons of satellites into space on their rockets. But the changes that would be needed to carry astronauts are costly and untried.

Internet businessman Elon Musk13 started a young company called Space Exploration Technologies, or SpaceX. One of its Falcon14 rockets has a test launch planned for next month.

BARBARA KLEIN: Under the new plan, NASA will keep control of some important development goals. The agency is to design its own heavy lift rocket at a cost of three billion dollars.

The new launch vehicle would be used to carry the supplies and equipment needed to explore space beyond the moon. The president set a time limit of twenty fifteen for the design to be completed, after which building would begin.

NASA is to continue developing the Orion crew capsule, which was part of the cancelled Constellation program. The plan is for Orion to provide astronauts with a spacecraft that can link with the International Space Station.

This is important because President Obama hopes to extend the life of the space station beyond twenty twenty. The new capsule could also be used if astronauts need to leave the station in an emergency.

And NASA is also being called on to develop new technologies to solve problems involved in long-term space flight for humans and robots. Next year's research and development budget calls for spending nearly two billion dollars on new space technologies. That is an increase of eighteen percent over this year.

STEVE EMBER: Under President Obama's plan, the immediate goal for NASA is no longer to return to the moon. Instead, he called on the space agency to reach deeper into the solar system.

BARACK OBAMA: "We will start by sending astronauts to an asteroid15 for the first time in history. By the mid-twenty thirties, 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."

His plan also calls for spending three billion dollars on improvements to the Kennedy Space Center. The administration says more than two thousand five hundred jobs will be created on the Space Coast. That could help ease some of the concern about job losses after the shuttle retirement16.

(MUSIC)

BARBARA KLEIN: Buzz Aldrin was the second person ever to walk on the moon. He stepped foot on the surface right after Neil Armstrong. He supports focusing on Mars rather than returning to the moon.

BUZZ ALDRIN: "Why should we do something when we’ve already done it?"

But he recognizes that some people have strong feelings about the issue.

BUZZ ALDRIN: "Obviously there are a lot of people that are unhappy about the potential of altering the future of space flight."

(MUSIC)

STEVE EMBER: President Obama says he understands that some people believe a return to the moon should be attempted first, as previously17 planned. But, in his words, "We've been there before."

Critics of his plan, however, say it could threaten America's leadership in space exploration.

China put an astronaut into space in two thousand three, and it plans to send a robotic explorer to the moon two years from now. Next year, the Chinese plan to launch a small space laboratory to practice docking of spacecraft in orbit.

For now, NASA has plans for only three more space shuttle flights. Once the shuttle is retired this year, the only way for the United States to get astronauts into orbit will be on Russian Soyuz rockets.

(MUSIC)

BARBARA KLEIN: Our program was written and produced by Mario Ritter. I'm Barbara Klein.

STEVE EMBER: And I’m Steve Ember. Here's a question you can debate online: How important is space exploration? Share your opinion at voaspecialenglish.com or on Facebook at VOA Learning English. You can also find transcripts18 and MP3s of our programs. Join us again next week for EXPLORATIONS in VOA Special English.
 


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点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 pro tk3zvX     
n.赞成,赞成的意见,赞成者
参考例句:
  • The two debating teams argued the question pro and con.辩论的两组从赞成与反对两方面辩这一问题。
  • Are you pro or con nuclear disarmament?你是赞成还是反对核裁军?
2 aeronautics BKVyg     
n.航空术,航空学
参考例句:
  • National Aeronautics and Space undertakings have made great progress.国家的航空航天事业有了很大的发展。
  • He devoted every spare moment to aeronautics.他把他所有多余的时间用在航空学上。
3 evolutionary Ctqz7m     
adj.进化的;演化的,演变的;[生]进化论的
参考例句:
  • Life has its own evolutionary process.生命有其自身的进化过程。
  • These are fascinating questions to be resolved by the evolutionary studies of plants.这些十分吸引人的问题将在研究植物进化过程中得以解决。
4 foretell 9i3xj     
v.预言,预告,预示
参考例句:
  • Willow trees breaking out into buds foretell the coming of spring.柳枝绽青报春来。
  • The outcome of the war is hard to foretell.战争胜负难以预卜。
5 observatory hRgzP     
n.天文台,气象台,瞭望台,观测台
参考例句:
  • Guy's house was close to the observatory.盖伊的房子离天文台很近。
  • Officials from Greenwich Observatory have the clock checked twice a day.格林威治天文台的职员们每天对大钟检查两次。
6 observatories d730b278442c711432218e89314e2a09     
n.天文台,气象台( observatory的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • John Heilbron, The Sun in the Church: Cathedrals as Solar Observatories, 3-23. 约翰.海耳布隆,《教会里的太阳:教堂即太阳观测台》,第3-23页。 来自互联网
  • Meteorologists use satellites, land observatories and historical data to provide information about the weather. 气象学家使用卫星、上天文台和历史资料来提供有关天气的信息。 来自互联网
7 retired Njhzyv     
adj.隐退的,退休的,退役的
参考例句:
  • The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
  • Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。
8 constellation CptzI     
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。
9 immediate aapxh     
adj.立即的;直接的,最接近的;紧靠的
参考例句:
  • His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
  • We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。
10 costly 7zXxh     
adj.昂贵的,价值高的,豪华的
参考例句:
  • It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
  • This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用,左不过贵了些。
11 advisory lKvyj     
adj.劝告的,忠告的,顾问的,提供咨询
参考例句:
  • I have worked in an advisory capacity with many hospitals.我曾在多家医院做过顾问工作。
  • He was appointed to the advisory committee last month.他上个月获任命为顾问委员会委员。
12 partnerships ce2e6aff420d72bbf56e8077be344bc9     
n.伙伴关系( partnership的名词复数 );合伙人身份;合作关系
参考例句:
  • Partnerships suffer another major disadvantage: decision-making is shared. 合伙企业的另一主要缺点是决定要由大家来作。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
  • It involved selling off limited partnerships. 它涉及到售出有限的合伙权。 来自辞典例句
13 musk v6pzO     
n.麝香, 能发出麝香的各种各样的植物,香猫
参考例句:
  • Musk is used for perfume and stimulant.麝香可以用作香料和兴奋剂。
  • She scented her clothes with musk.她用麝香使衣服充满了香味。
14 falcon rhCzO     
n.隼,猎鹰
参考例句:
  • The falcon was twice his size with pouted feathers.鹰张开羽毛比两只鹰还大。
  • The boys went hunting with their falcon.男孩子们带着猎鹰出去打猎了。
15 asteroid uo1yD     
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。
16 retirement TWoxH     
n.退休,退职
参考例句:
  • She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
  • I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。
17 previously bkzzzC     
adv.以前,先前(地)
参考例句:
  • The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
  • Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿,解释原先发生了什么。
18 transcripts 525c0b10bb61e5ddfdd47d7faa92db26     
n.抄本( transcript的名词复数 );转写本;文字本;副本
参考例句:
  • Like mRNA, both tRNA and rRNA are transcripts of chromosomal DNA. tRNA及rRNA同mRNA一样,都是染色体DNA的转录产物。 来自辞典例句
  • You can't take the transfer students'exam without your transcripts. 没有成绩证明书,你就不能参加转学考试。 来自辞典例句

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