2017考研英语阅读精选：NASA计划将人类带上火星

考研英语来源：新东方网整理 2016-01-07　

NASA Designing Systems to Take Humans to Mars

NASA计划将人类带上火星

At the Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama, engineers and scientists are working out how to make the Mars mission a reality.

在阿拉巴马州的马歇尔航天中心，工程师和科学家们正在忙于实现火星计划。

Paul Gilbert, manager of the science programs office at the Center, says they’re still in the very early stages of working out how to get to the red planet.

中心的科学项目办公室主任Paul Gilbert说他们仍然在研究如何到达这颗红色星球的初级阶段。

"Part of that is working with our partners from the International Space Station. We’re working through that organization, having discussions, what are their ideas, here are some of our ideas. And so, we’re in the early sketchpad phases of trying to work that out and the partners have ideas and desires and things they want to do in cislunar space."

“研究的一部分是和我们在国际空间站的伙伴们合作的。我们正和整个空间站合作，我们会讨论，交换他们的想法和我们的想法。并且，我们目前还在早期的画板阶段，尝试去解决问题，而我们的伙伴们也有想法和欲望以及有能力做我们想在地月空间做的事。”

Teams at the Marshall Space Flight Center are taking ideas from concept to design, developing spacecraft that will land on Mars and support life in frigid temperatures.

马歇尔航空中心的研究组还在从理论中提取可行的点，研发能在火星上降落以及在低温下维持生命的飞船。

At the Advanced Concepts Office, aerospace engineer Tara Polsgrove is giving a presentation about designs for a Mars lander that would safely deliver humans to the surface of the planet.

在高科技理念办公室，航空工程师Tara Polsgrove正在就能将人类安全送至火星表面的火星降落设计作报告。

A Mars lander is essentially two parts. The bottom half is the descent stage, it has the propulsion systems on it to enable that soft landing. And, on top, is the payload. So, we treat this kind of like a flatbed truck. So, any kind of payload would sit on top.

一个能降落火星的飞行器有两个非常重要的部分。下半截是下降平台，那上面有推进系统来保证平稳降落。上面部分是有效荷载。因此，我们像对待平板车一样对待这部分。因此任何种类的有效荷载都会在上面。

Elsewhere in the facility, designs for a spacecraft that would take humans through deep space are being tested.

为载人进入外太空而设计的飞行器里的其他地方都会进行测试。

NASA’s David Smitherman is a specialist in space habitats and he explains what the facility contains.

NASA的David Smitherman是空间居住环境的专家，他解释了一个飞行器的构造。

"You have a utility room down on the lower level, exercise room, kind of like a basement, downstairs. Your main floor level has room for the four bedrooms for the crew."

“在较低位置有一个杂物间，活动间在楼下，有点像地下室。主层位置有四个为工作人员准备的卧室。”

Teams are also using simulated Martian rock and soil to advance 3-D printing that could help astronauts build structures on Mars with materials already there.

研究小组还使用模拟火星岩土来改良3D打印技术，这会帮助宇航员对火星上存在的物质建模。

Sections of the Space Launch System, which will carry the Orion spacecraft, are being constructed across the United States.

空间发射系统会带动猎户座飞船，它的各部分是在美国范围内联合制造的。

NASA scientists and engineers are now working towards the first flight of Orion on top of the Space Launch System rocket. This test will not have humans on board.

NASA的科学家和工程师现在正在研究将猎户座飞船安置在空间发射系统上的第一次飞行。这次测试不会载人。

Rocket engines are being tested and NASA expects the launch of the first version of the SLS in 2018.

火箭的性能正在进行测试，NASA希望能在2018年进行SLS的第一次发射。

The first expedition to Mars is planned for the 2030s.

第一次火星考察计划将会在2030到2039年实现。