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太空垃圾成災(zāi)，該如何清理？
發(fā)布時(shí)間：2024-07-15 09:15 點(diǎn)擊：
（21世紀(jì)英文報(bào)）
原文版面
The Original
二十一世紀(jì)英文報(bào)·初三版 761期
《Cleaning up space》
當(dāng)?shù)孛娉霈F(xiàn)垃圾時(shí)，我們會(huì)將其拾起扔到垃圾桶。但太空出現(xiàn)垃圾要如何處理呢？
科學(xué)家們決定派一個(gè)專門的航天器到太空清理垃圾。它是怎么工作的呢？一起到文章里了解一下吧！
After nearly 70 years of space exploration, Earth is now surrounded (環(huán)繞) by space junk. An accident made the cleanup more difficult to start.
經(jīng)過近70年的太空探索，地球現(xiàn)在被太空垃圾包圍。一場事故使得清理工作更難開始。
According to the European Space Agency (ESA, 歐洲航天局), scientists plan on testing their “junk truck”, ClearSpace-1, in 2026. It’s a spacecraft with four arms that can catch debris (碎片) and bring it back to Earth. Scientists have chosen to bring back VESPA, a rocket part.
歐洲航天局稱，科學(xué)家計(jì)劃在2026年測試他們的“垃圾車”ClearSpace-1——這是一艘裝有四只手臂的宇宙飛船，它可以收集飄落在太空的“垃圾碎片”，并將其帶回地球。科學(xué)家們在眾多“太空垃圾”中選中了VESPA——一個(gè)火箭部件，決定將其帶回地球。
圖源：千圖網(wǎng)
exploration /ˌekspləˈreɪʃn/ n.探索
例句：His exploration of the myth brings insight into the American psyche.
他對這個(gè)神話的探討揭示了美國人的心理。
——《柯林斯英漢雙解大詞典》
debris /ˈdebriː/ n.碎片
例句：Falling debris rained on us from above.
碎片從上面像雨點(diǎn)兒一樣落在我們身上。
——《柯林斯英漢雙解大詞典》
However, VESPA was later hit by another piece of space junk, creating new pieces. The ESA is now revising (修改) its cleanup plan.
但VESPA被另一塊太空垃圾擊中，分解成了新的碎片，歐洲航天局正在據(jù)此修改“太空清理計(jì)劃”。
revise /rɪˈvaɪz/ v.修改
例句：The government may need to revise its policy in the light of this report.
政府可能需要根據(jù)這份報(bào)告改變其政策。
——《牛津詞典》
Most satellites (衛(wèi)星) today are sent into Earth’s low orbit (軌道), which reaches up to around 2,000 kilometers above Earth. There, spacecraft are most likely to crash into each other. There may be as many as 170 million pieces of space junk in orbit, according to the ESA. Big or small, any of the pieces can damage (摧毀) a spacecraft. For example, if an object as large as 10 centimeters crashes with a satellite, the satellite will break apart.
現(xiàn)在大多數(shù)衛(wèi)星都被送入地球上方2000公里左右的低軌道運(yùn)行，在那里，航天器之間相撞的可能性很大。歐洲航天局提供的數(shù)據(jù)顯示：該軌道上可能有多達(dá)1.7億塊太空垃圾。無論是多大多小的垃圾碎片都可能會(huì)損壞運(yùn)行中的航天器。舉個(gè)例子：就算是一塊10厘米那么大的碎片與衛(wèi)星相撞，衛(wèi)星也會(huì)解體。
圖源：包圖網(wǎng)
satellite /ˈsætəlaɪt/ n.人造衛(wèi)星
例句：The interview came live by satellite from Hollywood.
采訪是通過衛(wèi)星從好萊塢現(xiàn)場傳來的。
——《牛津詞典》
crash /kræʃ/ v.撞擊
例句：The plane crashed mysteriously near the island of Ustica.
那架飛機(jī)在烏斯蒂卡島附近神秘墜毀了。
——《柯林斯英漢雙解大詞典》
orbit /ˈɔːbɪt/ n.(天體等運(yùn)行的)軌道
例句：A new satellite has been put into orbit around the earth.
一顆新的人造衛(wèi)星被送上了環(huán)繞地球的軌道。
——《牛津詞典》
In terms of the cleanup, scientists have some ideas. One popular plan is to send a spacecraft carrying harpoons (魚叉) and magnets (磁鐵). The craft would shoot the harpoon to stick into the debris before “throwing” it back to Earth. Magnets could move the debris, changing its direction. The debris would burn after entering Earth’s atmosphere (大氣層) so there wouldn’t be much left when it reaches Earth.
在清理太空垃圾方面，科學(xué)家們有一些想法。有一個(gè)廣受歡迎的計(jì)劃是派遣一艘攜帶魚叉裝置和磁鐵的航天器。該航天器會(huì)將魚叉射進(jìn)碎片中，然后將其“扔”回地球。磁鐵可以移動(dòng)碎片，改變其行動(dòng)方向。這些碎片進(jìn)入地球大氣層后會(huì)燃燒，因此到達(dá)地球的碎片不會(huì)剩下太多。
圖源：包圖網(wǎng)
In terms of 在……方面
例句：The data is limited in terms of both quality and quantity.
這份資料在質(zhì)量和數(shù)量上都很有限。
——《牛津詞典》
harpoon /hɑːˈpuːn/ n.魚叉
例句：They tried to get the harpoon into the ray before the sting tail came lashing over to retaliate
他們試圖把魚叉刺進(jìn)鰩魚體內(nèi)，以防它猛擺那蜇人的尾巴報(bào)復(fù)。
——《柯林斯英漢雙解大詞典》
atmosphere/ˈætməsfɪə(r)/ n.大氣層
例句：The atmosphere of Mars could not support life.
生命無法在火星的大氣環(huán)境下生存。
——《牛津詞典》
Scientists are also considering shooting lasers (激光) from spacecraft to heat up the debris’ surface, creating a small push that would change the debris’ orbit. This change would allow the debris to be caught by Earth’s gravity (重力).
科學(xué)家們還考慮從航天器上發(fā)射激光來加熱碎片表面，從而產(chǎn)生一個(gè)小推力改變碎片的軌道，讓碎片被地球引力捕獲。
圖源：千圖網(wǎng)
shoot /ʃuːt/ v.射擊
例句：Don't shoot—I surrender.
別開槍——我投降。
——《牛津詞典》
heat up 加熱
例句：Freda heated up a pie for me.
弗蕾達(dá)為我熱了一塊餡餅。
——《牛津詞典》
gravity /ˈɡrævəti/ n.重力
例句：Arrows would continue to fly forward forever in a straight line were it not for gravity, which brings them down to earth.
要不是重力使箭落向地面，它們將永遠(yuǎn)以直線往前飛行。
——《柯林斯英漢雙解大詞典》
圖源：包圖網(wǎng)、千圖網(wǎng)
編輯：魏浩蘭 王雪辰
實(shí)習(xí)編輯：葉綺盈
