节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2012-10-24
难易度:High
关键字:lounge, astronaut, escalate, embark, have stars in one's eyes, shuttle
OK. I hope you all had a great break.
Welcome back.
For many years, the idea of sending humans into space was confined to science
fiction novels and movies.
Then in 1961, Russian astronaut Yuri Gagarin made history by becoming the first
human to journey into outer space.
Today, just over 50 years later, there's a list of about 600 people who have
experienced space.
Let's find out now who joined that list as we pick up the reading on line 12.
Space Tourism.
Until recently, space has primarily been the domain of governments, researchers
and satellite companies.
However, with the retirement of NASA's shuttle program and the escalating
interest in space tourism,
the "final frontier" may soon be opening up for even more people.
Over the past decade, a number of individuals have bought a ticket and embarked
on a space vehicle through a company called Space Adventures.
One of their clients, an American businessman named Dennis Tito, became the
first space tourist.
He arrived at the International Space Station via a Russian Soyuz rocket on
April 30, 2001.
Are you ready to lift off and go to space?
Maybe you'd like the adventure of a lifetime to get to go see the stars.
But just like Ryan and I, you're not smart enough to be an astronaut.
Well, maybe you still have a chance.
That's right.
All you need is a little bit of money, and then you will be able to travel to
space just like any other normal person.
Well, until recently, space has primarily, or mainly, been the domain of
governments, researchers and satellite companies.
OK, let's break these up.
Governments, we know, are related to each country.
You're run by a government.
Now I know that the United States government and Russia are the two leading
governments in space exploration.
But they're not the only ones up there.
There are also private companies, researchers and satellite companies.
That's right.
Many other countries, including China, are growing in their area of space
expertise, or space travel and knowledge.
But just like Kaylah said, there are companies that are privately owned.
That means they're not governments, they're not scientists or satellite
companies.
They are going to allow tourists to travel to space.
That's right.
Now satellite companies are how we get to use the Internet.
So friends, you should be thankful for them.
And they've been up there a while.
But you know, your chance might be coming.
That's true.
The reason that there are more private companies allowing tourists to go to
space is because the NASA's shuttle program was retired,
and there are escalating interests in space tourism.
OK. So with the retirement, which means they are no longer using it, of NASA's
shuttle program.
OK. First we need to know what a shuttle is.
OK. Now friends, I did mention a shuttle before the break.
The word "shuttle" usually is talking about a vehicle that takes people from one
place to the other and then returns.
Well, when we're talking about space, the space shuttle is the vehicle that
travels to space and then returns.
In fact, you can see a picture of it on page 44.
Now we see this as a shuttle program by NASA.
So we know "NASA" is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the
space program from the United States.
Now they had a shuttle program that was sending the shuttles to space
frequently.
Now Ryan, in this picture, is this a NASA shuttle?
No, that is actually not a NASA shuttle.
This is a new shuttle that we're going to talk about soon.
But it is still called a shuttle.
It is.
OK, so this is still a space vehicle.
Now with this program shutting down through NASA, there's an escalating interest
in space tourism,
and the "final frontier" may soon be open for even more people.
OK, friends.
If something is "escalating," that means it is becoming more and more severe, or
more serious, or it is growing.
So that means people are having even more interest in space tourism.
And then we see the "final frontier." Now that's in quotation marks.
A frontier is an open area that has not been explored fully or settled.
Now the term "final frontier," where does that come from?
That comes from Star Trek.
And many of you probably already know that.
They say space is the final frontier.
Well, so we're talking about space.
When we put "final frontier" in quotation marks, it's an exciting and creative
way of saying space.
OK. Now friends, over the past decade, or the last 10 years,
a number of individuals have bought a ticket and have embarked on a space
vehicle through a company called Space Adventures.
So this space's final frontier is opening up!
We can get there now.
That's right.
If you "embark" on something, that means you go on to a ship.
You can embark on a boat.
You can also embark on a spaceship or an airplane.
OK, so it's to get on something.
Can you embark on a train?
No. You would load onto a train or... board the train.
OK. So embark does usually refer to something that has "-ship" on the end, so
spaceship.
Exactly, so.
Yes, you use this for many types of vehicles when you are getting on to them.
OK. So people have bought a ticket.
Now one of their clients was an American businessman named Dennis Tito.
Now he became the first space tourist.
OK, so he was the first normal person, I guess you would say "the first public
individual" to get to travel to space.
Lucky him!
And as we say "tourist," we mean he was not a scientifist, a researcher, a
government person.
He was just, as Ryan said, a normal businessman.
But he had to have a lot of money.
That's right.
He actually got to travel to the International Space Station via a Russian Soyuz
rocket on April 30, 2001.
So this was quite a few years ago; so space tourism has been around and is
increasing.
Now the International Space Station is up in space.
It is permanently there, and it is used by many different countries for
research.
Yeah. It's typically used by scientists and astronauts.
But he got to go there just for fun.
Join us tomorrow, friends.
We're going to talk about a lot more opportunities that maybe you can take
advantage of to travel to space.
But now, let's visit the Information Station.
Wow, Bill, I sure like the idea of space travel.
Someday, I hope to do it.
You know, Bryan, I had a dream last night about space travel.
It was so strange.
(Background Noise).
Space, the final frontier.
These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise.
Our mission is to go where no man has gone before.
Captain Kirk, we are entering the Tango Galaxy.
We'll soon be near Planet Bear.
Well done, Uhura.
Say, your hair looks great.
Is that a new style?
Why, yes, Captain!
Thank you for noticing.
I went to...
Captain Kirk, are you sure it's a good idea for tourists to be aboard the
Enterprise?
It seems illogical.
Spock! Spock! We need the money.
And these tourists help pay our expenses.
It's all part of our new space tourism plan.
Captain, the Tango Galaxy is rather dangerous.
The aliens of Planet Bear are not friendly, and...
Captain, I'm receiving a signal from Planet Bear.
It's... it's one of the aliens!
Put him on the screen, Uhura.
(Background Noise).
I can't understand him.
Do you speak English?
(Background Noise).
Captain, he's speaking the Bear language.
He's saying they will destroy our ship in one minute.
No... I want to live.
Captain, what will we do?
Scotty, quick!
Beam down a Studio Classroom magazine to the alien.
I can't, Captain Kirk.
I'm losing power.
Captain, it appears that Uhura's hair dryer is using too much power.
Oh... sorry, Captain.
Ah, there we go, Captain.
Now I have power to beam this down to the alien.
(Background Noise).
We will destroy your ship!
Ah, see! He can speak English.
Captain, it seems the alien likes the magazine.
Captain Kirk, I remember that the aliens on Planet Bear like pizza.
Scotty, quick.
Beam down a pizza to the alien.
Aye, aye, Captain.
(Background Noise).
Mmm! Pizza, good!
We not destroy your ship.
A logical decision.
Oh, Captain.
Now that we can all speak English, we will be down to visit your planet.
And we will see all of you here next time at...
Information Station.
Hi, everyone. I'm Michelle.
(Chinese).
And we're running out of time again.
I'll see you next time.
Bye-bye.
Hey, everybody, if you want to go into outer space, you can.
But save your dollars because it will be the most expensive vacation you'll ever
take.
Officials calculate that it costs about one... I'm sorry, US$10,000 to get every
pound of equipment, every pound of human flesh and bone into Earth's orbit.
So before you go, it might be worth losing some weight.
And you'll definitely want to pack light.
OK. Tomorrow we'll look at some of the different space travel packages that are
being offered.
Maybe you'll find one that fits your budget.
Until then, I hope all of you have a great day.