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太空垃圾成灾，该如何清理？
发布时间：2024-07-15 09:15 点击：
（21世纪英文报）
原文版面
The Original
二十一世纪英文报·初三版 761期
《Cleaning up space》
当地面出现垃圾时，我们会将其拾起扔到垃圾桶。但太空出现垃圾要如何处理呢？
科学家们决定派一个专门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 (环绕) by space junk. An accident made the cleanup more difficult to start.
经过近70年的太空探索，地球现在被太空垃圾包围。一场事故使得清理工作更难开始。
According to the European Space Agency (ESA, 欧洲航天局), 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.
欧洲航天局称，科学家计划在2026年测试他们的“垃圾车”ClearSpace-1——这是一艘装有四只手臂的宇宙飞船，它可以收集飘落在太空的“垃圾碎片”，并将其带回地球。科学家们在众多“太空垃圾”中选中了VESPA——一个火箭部件，决定将其带回地球。
图源：千图网
exploration /ˌekspləˈreɪʃn/ n.探索
例句：His exploration of the myth brings insight into the American psyche.
他对这个神话的探讨揭示了美国人的心理。
——《柯林斯英汉双解大词典》
debris /ˈdebriː/ n.碎片
例句：Falling debris rained on us from above.
碎片从上面像雨点儿一样落在我们身上。
——《柯林斯英汉双解大词典》
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被另一块太空垃圾击中，分解成了新的碎片，欧洲航天局正在据此修改“太空清理计划”。
revise /rɪˈvaɪz/ v.修改
例句：The government may need to revise its policy in the light of this report.
政府可能需要根据这份报告改变其政策。
——《牛津词典》
Most satellites (卫星) today are sent into Earth’s low orbit (轨道), 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 (摧毁) a spacecraft. For example, if an object as large as 10 centimeters crashes with a satellite, the satellite will break apart.
现在大多数卫星都被送入地球上方2000公里左右的低轨道运行，在那里，航天器之间相撞的可能性很大。欧洲航天局提供的数据显示：该轨道上可能有多达1.7亿块太空垃圾。无论是多大多小的垃圾碎片都可能会损坏运行中的航天器。举个例子：就算是一块10厘米那么大的碎片与卫星相撞，卫星也会解体。
图源：包图网
satellite /ˈsætəlaɪt/ n.人造卫星
例句：The interview came live by satellite from Hollywood.
采访是通过卫星从好莱坞现场传来的。
——《牛津词典》
crash /kræʃ/ v.撞击
例句：The plane crashed mysteriously near the island of Ustica.
那架飞机在乌斯蒂卡岛附近神秘坠毁了。
——《柯林斯英汉双解大词典》
orbit /ˈɔːbɪt/ n.(天体等运行的)轨道
例句：A new satellite has been put into orbit around the earth.
一颗新的人造卫星被送上了环绕地球的轨道。
——《牛津词典》
In terms of the cleanup, scientists have some ideas. One popular plan is to send a spacecraft carrying harpoons (鱼叉) and magnets (磁铁). 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 (大气层) so there wouldn’t be much left when it reaches Earth.
在清理太空垃圾方面，科学家们有一些想法。有一个广受欢迎的计划是派遣一艘携带鱼叉装置和磁铁的航天器。该航天器会将鱼叉射进碎片中，然后将其“扔”回地球。磁铁可以移动碎片，改变其行动方向。这些碎片进入地球大气层后会燃烧，因此到达地球的碎片不会剩下太多。
图源：包图网
In terms of 在……方面
例句：The data is limited in terms of both quality and quantity.
这份资料在质量和数量上都很有限。
——《牛津词典》
harpoon /hɑːˈpuːn/ n.鱼叉
例句：They tried to get the harpoon into the ray before the sting tail came lashing over to retaliate
他们试图把鱼叉刺进鳐鱼体内，以防它猛摆那蜇人的尾巴报复。
——《柯林斯英汉双解大词典》
atmosphere/ˈætməsfɪə(r)/ n.大气层
例句：The atmosphere of Mars could not support life.
生命无法在火星的大气环境下生存。
——《牛津词典》
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).
科学家们还考虑从航天器上发射激光来加热碎片表面，从而产生一个小推力改变碎片的轨道，让碎片被地球引力捕获。
图源：千图网
shoot /ʃuːt/ v.射击
例句：Don't shoot—I surrender.
别开枪——我投降。
——《牛津词典》
heat up 加热
例句：Freda heated up a pie for me.
弗蕾达为我热了一块馅饼。
——《牛津词典》
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，它们将永远以直线往前飞行。
——《柯林斯英汉双解大词典》
图源：包图网、千图网
编辑：魏浩兰 王雪辰
实习编辑：叶绮盈
