Lunar Spaceflight
月球之旅
Fly who to the Moon?
誰將飛向月球？
One race to the Moon is nearing its end
登月競賽一波未平
Another is just beginning
一波又起
The $30m Google Lunar XPRIZE has had a slow time of it. Set up in 2007, it originally required competitors to land robots on the Moon by 2012. But the interest in returning to the Moon that the prize sought to catalyse did not quickly materialise; faced with a dearth of likely winners, the XPRIZE Foundation was forced to push back its deadline again and again. Now, though, five competing teams have launch contracts to get their little marvels to the Moon by the end of this year. And as those robotic explorers head into the final straight, a new contest is opening up.
獎金高達 3000 萬美元的谷歌登月競賽的進展卻很緩慢。該比賽始於2007 年，最初要求所有的參賽隊伍在 2012 年之前將各自的機器人送到月球。但是以重金推動重返月球的計劃並不能立竿見影；由於參賽選手表現平平，XPRIZE 基金會被迫多次推遲比賽的截止日期。不過，目前已有五支參賽隊伍籤約承諾，他們將在今年年底前把他們的「小傢伙」送往月球。隨著這些機器探險家進入比賽的衝刺階段，一場新的較量即將上演。
On February 27th Elon Musk said that SpaceX, his aerospace company, had agreed to send two paying customers around the Moon some time in 2018, using a new (and as yet untried) version of its Falcon rocket, the Falcon Heavy. They would be the first people to travel beyond low-Earth orbit since 1972. Two weeks before Mr. Musk’s announcement, NASA said it was considering using the first flight of its new rocket, the Space Launch System(SLS; also untested), to do something similar, though with astronauts, not paying tourists. The race, it seems, is on.
2 月 27 日，埃隆·馬斯克說，他的太空探索技術公司 SpaceX 已經同意在 2018 年的某個時候，發射尚未經測試的獵鷹號火箭「Falcon Heavy」，用以搭載兩位付費客戶至月球。他們將成為自 1972 年阿姆斯特朗團隊登月後，抵達低地球軌道外的第一批旅客。就在馬斯克先生宣布此消息的前兩周，美國國家航空航天局也表示，他們正在考慮使用新火箭「太空發射系統」（簡稱 SLS；也未經測試）進行類似的工作，只不過其運載的是太空人而非付費遊客。一場較量似乎已初見端倪。
This is not, though, a simple story of private sector versus public. For one thing, SpaceX can offer such a trip only thanks to NASA’s previous largesse. The company’s Dragon space capsule, in which the Moon tourists would fly, was developed to carry first cargo and, soon, people up to the International Space Station—services for which NASA pays generously. For another, NASA might end up deciding to pay SpaceX for its Moon jollies, just as it pays for rides to the space station.
然而這絕非單純是一個私營企業叫板政府機構的案例。一方面，美國太空探索技術公司（SpaceX）得益於 NASA 當年的慷慨資助才能提供這樣的旅行。該公司的龍太空艙，最初曾經開發用來攜帶貨物，很快，也運載人們到國際空間站——NASA 曾為此服務慷慨解囊，現在，那些乘客也將乘坐它去月球。另一方面，NASA 可能最終愉快地決定支付 SpaceX 去往月球的費用，正如它當初為那些去空間站的人買單一樣。
In January an adviser to Donald Trump sent an e-mail to senior Republicans interested in space policy suggesting an 「internal competition between Old Space and New Space」 at the agency to get people back to lunar orbit. 「Old Space」 almost certainly meant the in-house SLS effort; 「New Space」 probably means SpaceX—or possibly Blue Origin, a company owned by Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, which is also working on a suitably big rocket. A New Space option would seem to make budgetary sense. Though the Falcon Heavy needed for SpaceX’s Moon trip has yet to fly, it is certain to be far cheaper than the SLS. But the SLS has a great deal of support in the Senate—and there are some in Washington who have their doubts about making the country’s space programme too dependent on sometimes capricious billionaires.
1 月，川普的顧問向對空間政策感興趣的資深共和黨人發送了一封電子郵件，郵件中提出「國內傳統航天企業與新興太空企業的競爭」，以期重返月球。「傳統航天企業」毫無疑問是指政府的NASA，「新興太空企業」可能指的是 SpaceX，也可能是傑夫·貝佐斯的 Blue Origin，他也是亞馬遜的創始人，這家公司同樣也擁有相應的大火箭。就預算來說，新興太空企業似乎是更好的選擇。儘管SpaceX 月球之旅的火箭「Falcon Heavy」尚未發射，但是肯定會比SLS 便宜的多。然而，參議院大力支持 SLS——白宮的很多人對選擇新興企業存在質疑：美國的太空計劃太過於依賴這些反覆無常的億萬富翁。
The new administration has yet to weigh in—or to appoint a NASA administrator. But its ambitions may have been hinted at when Mr. Trump evoked some of the wonders the United States might achieve by the time of its sestercentenary in this week’s speech to Congress: 「American footprints on distant worlds,」 he said, 「are not too big a dream.」 The only distant world any foot will be leaving prints on by 2026 is the Moon.
新政府還未考慮——或者說尚未任命 NASA 的最高負責人，但是在本周的國會演說裡，川普提到了短期內美國可能實現的一些奇蹟，比如「美國踏足遙遠世界」再也不會只是空談，這展露出美國在這方面的野心。
Such feet do not have to be American. China sent a rover called Yutu to the Moon in2013, and plans a mission to return rocks to Earth this year. The idea of landing people on the Moon by 2030, or perhaps even earlier, has been discussed in public. That brings the possibility of yet another race.
開疆拓土並不是美國人的專利。中國在 2013 年向月球發射了「玉兔」探測器，並計劃今年將巖石取回地球。人們已經公開討論過到 2030年，甚至在此之前將人類送上月球的計劃，這可能又帶來了另一場較量。
In all such races it would be wise, as the XPRIZE shows, to expect delays. The crew-carrying version of the Dragon is not expected to make its first flight to the space station until the middle of 2018 at the earliest: sending one around the Moon by the end of that year is a tall order. That said, SpaceX’s customers may not mind if the schedule slips to 2019—the 50th anniversary of the first Apollo Moon landing would add yet more pizzazz to what is sure to be a very high-profile venture.
正如 XPRIZE 登月比賽所展示出來的，人們明智地預見到截止日期的推遲。對於龍太空艙，預計最早也要到 2018 年中期才會第一次飛往空間站：年底發送到月球更是苛求。
Who the purchasers of this pizzazz might be is not yet known, though one, at least, must be very rich. One possibility is Steve Jurvetson , a venture capitalist on SpaceX’s board. Another is the film-maker James Cameron, who directed 「Avatar」, the most profitable film ever made. Mr. Cameron has already plumbed the Mariana Trench in a submersible; in 2011 he showed interest in a privately funded Russian mission to the Moon. Having such a film?maker on board would certainly ensure that the trip was spectacularly documented. With the right lenses, he might even pick out the tiny XPRIZE rovers as he flashes by.
誰將為此買單尚且不明，但至少也要非常有錢。一個潛在顧客是史蒂夫·尤爾韋松，SpaceX 董事會的風險資本家。另一個可能是導演詹姆斯·卡梅倫，他執導的《阿凡達》是有史以來最賺錢的電影。卡梅倫先生曾經搭乘深海潛水器穿過了馬裡亞納海溝；在 2011 年，他也表現出私人資助俄羅斯登月項目的興趣。有這樣的導演在船上，想必一定能精妙地記錄下整個旅途。使用適當的鏡頭，他甚至可以找出太空中閃爍的 XPRIZE 探測器。
一、段落結構
二、詞語精講
1.catalyse
※作動詞表示：促成;激發;引發
If something catalyses a thing or a situation, it makes it active;
例如：任何突如其來的情況都可能造成暴力驟然升級。
Any unexpected circumstance that arises may catalyze a sudden escalation of violence.
※也可以是專業領域詞，表示：(化學)催化
In chemistry, if something catalyses a reaction or event, it causes it to happen;
例如：人們早已知道，如果材料的表面積足夠大，可引起催化反應。
It had been known for some time that chemical reactions can be catalyzed by materials with large surface areas.
2.internal
※作形容詞表示：國內的;內政的;(組織)內部的
Internal is used to describe things that exist or happen inside a country or organization;
例如：該國加強了國內安保。
The country stepped up internal security.
凱利先生把辭職信寄到了瓊斯先生的內部郵箱裡。
Mr Kelly posted his resignation letter to Mr Jones in the internal mail box.
※作形容詞還表示：體內的;(物體或場所)內部的
Internal is used to describe things that exist or happen inside a particular person, object, or place;
例如：我家房子的一些內牆是石膏板做的。
Some of the internal walls of my house are made of plasterboard.
3.option
※作名詞，表示：可選擇的事物
An option is something that you can choose to do in preference to one or more alternatives.
例如：你還有什麼別的選擇嗎？
What other options do you have?
※作名詞還表示：（將來的）購買權，出售權；期權
In business, an option is an agreement or contract that gives someone the right to buy or sell something such as property or shares at a future date.
例如：兩家銀行都同意給予對方其19.9%股份的期權。
Each bank has granted the other an option on 19.9% of its shares.
※作名詞還表示：選修課
An option is one of a number of subjects which a student can choose to study;
例如：為畢業班學生開設了幾門選修課。
Several options are offered for the student's senior year.
※可以記一個短語，表示：最容易的選擇；最保險的選擇
If you take the soft option, you do the thing that is easiest or least likely to cause trouble in a particular situation.
例如：我們決定採取最保險的方案。我希望讓觀眾開心，因為他們就是為這個掏錢的。
We take the soft option. I like to keep the crowd happy because that's what they pay for.
4.weigh
※作動詞表示：有…重;重
If someone or something weighs a particular amount, this amount is how heavy they are.
例如：這個小金球重0.25盎司。
This little ball of gold weighs a quarter of an ounce.
※外刊中常用的動詞含義是：認真考慮;權衡;斟酌
If you weigh the facts about a situation, you consider them very carefully before you make a decision, especially by comparing the various facts involved.
例如：他正在仔細考慮對那個醫生提起刑事訴訟的可能性。
He is weighing the possibility of filing criminal charges against the doctor.
※作動詞還可以表示：對…有(重大)影響
Something that weighs heavily in a situation has a strong influence or important effect on it.
例如：有好多因素影響了會議的召開。
There are many factors weighing against the meeting happening.
5.hint
※作名詞表示：暗示
A hint is a suggestion about something that is made in an indirect way.
例如：我已經暗示要在這裡舉辦一次他的作品展。
I'd dropped a hint about having an exhibition of his work up here.
※短語很重要：take a hint，表示：領會暗示
「我想我聽到電話鈴在響。」——「好的，我明白你的意思了。」
'I think I hear the telephone ringing.'—'Okay, I can take a hint.'
※作名詞表示：有益的建議;不錯的主意;好點子
A hint is a helpful piece of advice, usually about how to do something.
例如：幾條有用的建議可以讓你的旅途更輕鬆。
Here are some helpful hints to make your journey easier.
三、句型學習
1.And as those robotic explorers head into the final straight, a new contest is opening up.
隨著這些機器探險家進入比賽的衝刺階段，一場新的較量即將上演。
※這裡我們要學的句式是：...contest... (be) open...，表示「一場新的較量即將上演」。可以用來表示競爭關係開始。
例如：我現在正式宣演講比賽開始。
I now formally declare the speech contest open.
競賽將於十一月二十二號開始。GoogleCode - in建議鼓勵青年學生著手編程非常重要，同樣重要的是介紹這個領域的專家他們認識。
For the contest will open November 22. Google Code-in recognizes that encouraging young students to try their hand at programming is important, as is introducing them to mentors in the field.
2.The race, it seems, is on.
一場較量似乎已初見端倪。
※這裡我們同樣要學習的是表示比賽開始的 race is on...，中間可以根據句意加修飾詞，這個句式可以用來表示互相比趕。
例如：與此同時正趕著在下周三前把路面重新鋪好。
Meanwhile the race is on to resurface the road before next Wednesday.
Dake先生說：一場關於爭著和作家籤約的比賽正在進行。
Mr Dake says a race is on to sign up authors.
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