Curiosity on Mars
美音、自然拼读、分级阅读与词汇复习
Table of Contents Landing on Mars.
内容列表 登陆火星.
4 Searching for E.
4 寻找E.
T.
（E.T.的后半部分）
7 Mobile Science Lab.
7 移动科学实验室.
10 Driving Curiosity.
10 驾驶好奇心。
13 Listening In.
13号收听器
15 Glossary.
15 词汇。
16 Landing on Mars Jet Propulsion Laboratory Cupertino, California September 20, 2012, 7:20 PM It will be over in the time it takes to hard-boil an egg.
16 在火星喷气推进实验室降落,加利福尼亚州,2012年9月20日,下午7:20 它会结束 在它需要的时间 硬煮鸡蛋。
That’s the only thing scientists know for sure.
科学家们只知道这一点。
Some hold their breath.
有些人屏住呼吸。
Others bite their fingernails.
别人咬指甲
All hope the strange-looking spacecraft lands safely on Mars.
所有人都希望外观怪异的航天器安全地降落在火星上.
The spacecraft’s name is Curiosity.
该航天器的名称是好奇心.
Its job is to look for evidence of past or current life on Mars.
它的任务是寻找火星上过去或现在生命的证据.
Curiosity is a mechanical rover larger than a golf cart.
好奇心是比高尔夫球车更大的机械车.
In fact, it’s the largest robotic vehicle that NASA, the United States’ space agency, has ever built.
事实上,这是美国航天局所建造的最大的机器人飞行器。
Scientists watch Curiosity test its robotic arm at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in 2010.
科学家观看了好奇心于2010年在NASA的喷气推进实验室测试其机器人臂.
Touchdown!
达阵!
In a move never before attempted by NASA, Curiosity is lowered gently to the surface of Mars by a Sky Crane (computer rendering).
在美国航天局从未尝试过的举动中,好奇心被一款"天鹤"(计算机渲染)轻轻地降低到火星表面.
Curiosity hurtles through space at 13,000 miles (20,921 km) per hour as it breaks through the planet’s atmosphere.
好奇心在穿越地球大气层时 以每小时一万三千英里(20,921公里)的速度穿过太空。
What happens next is a 7-minute plunge to the surface—and the longest 420 seconds in the lives of NASA scientists on the Mars rover team.
接下来是7分钟的坠入地表 也是美国宇航局科学家在火星漫游者队中 生命中最长的420秒
Although the Martian atmosphere is thin, it produces enough drag to slow Curiosity to 1,000 miles (1,609 km) per hour.
虽然火星大气层很薄,但它产生的拖力足以将好奇心减慢到每小时1000英里(1,609公里).
Still, at this speed, the craft is moving far too fast to land.
尽管如此,以这样的速度,飞船移动得太快,无法降落.
But scientists have planned for this moment.
但是科学家们已经计划了这一刻。
A 100-pound parachute blossoms from the top of the craft.
一个100磅的降落伞花 从飞行器上方。
The chute slows Curiosity to 200 miles (321 km) per hour, the speed of a Formula 1 race car.
槽将好奇心减慢到每小时200英里(321公里),速度为一款一级方程式赛车.
Seconds later, the parachute releases.
秒后,降落伞释放。
With seconds to go and the surface of Mars fast approaching, the Sky Crane holding Curiosity beneath it fires its rocket engines.
还有几秒钟,火星的地表就快接近了 天鹤号在它下面握住好奇心 发射火箭引擎
They slow the craft even more.
他们更慢的飞行器。
About 66 feet (20 m) above the planet’s surface, the Sky Crane gently lowers Curiosity to the ground on cables.
距离地球表面约66英尺(20米), 天空起鹤在电缆上轻轻地将好奇心降低到地上.
Scientists have never before tried to land a spacecraft using this method.
科学家从未尝试过使用这种方法降落航天器。
Will it work?
有用吗?
No one knows.
没有人知道。
The control room is silent.
控制室寂静.
Finally, the seven minutes are up.
最后,7分钟到了。
“Touchdown confirmed!”
“Touchdown确认!”
someone shouts.
有人喊着。
Cheers fill the room.
干杯,房间。
People hug.
人相拥抱.
A few cry.
几起泪.
Curiosity has landed.
好奇心已经着陆了
August 5, 2012.
2012年8月5日 (英语).
Scientists at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory react to the Curiosity rover landing safely on Mars.
喷气推进实验室的科学家们对"好奇心漫游"安全地登陆火星的反应.
Searching for E.
寻找 E.
T.
（E.T.的后半部分）
Mars has fascinated people for centuries.
数个世纪以来,火星一直让人着迷
The ancient Romans and Greeks named the planet for their gods of war.
古罗马人和希腊人以战争之神为地球取名.
In 1877, an Italian astronomer wrongly thought he saw canals on the Martian surface.
1877年,一位意大利天文学家错误地认为他在火星表面看到了运河.
His mistake gave rise to the idea that someone was living there.
他的错误引起了有人住在那里的想法.
As time passed, people soon realized that Mars and Earth had a lot in common.
随着时间的流逝,人们很快意识到火星和地球有很多共同点.
Mars is just as old as Earth.
火星和地球一样古老
As on Earth, the seasons on Mars change.
和地球上一样,火星上的季节也发生了变化.
The planet has volcanoes, mountains, and valleys.
该行星有火山,山脉和山谷.
Yet, Earth has one thing that has yet to be found on Mars—life.
然而,在火星生命中,地球还有一件事尚未找到。
As far as we know, Earth is the only planet in our solar system that has ever been home to living things.
据我们所知, 地球是太阳系中 唯一一个拥有活物的行星。
Scientists hope that will all change by the time Curiosity’s mission ends in two years.
科学家们希望这一切在好奇心任务两年后将改变。
They hope the Red Planet has, or once supported, life.
他们希望"红色星球"有或一度支持生命.
Although NASA sent the spacecraft to Mars to search for aliens, the rover won’t be looking for little green men.
尽管NASA派飞船去火星寻找外星人,
Instead, it will search for tiny extraterrestrial life-forms hiding beneath rocks or buried under the soil.
相反,它会寻找隐藏在岩石下或被埋入土壤中的地外生命形态。
Such creatures might be smaller than a one-celled animal or as tiny as a virus.
这种生物可能比一细胞动物还小 或者像病毒一样小
Where might these critters have come from?
这些畜生可能来自哪里?
Long ago, water flowed on Mars.
相去已久,水流入火星.
Water is vital for life.
水对生命至关重要。
If Mars was wet, perhaps life flowered on its rust-red surface.
如果火星是湿的,也许生命 开花在其生锈红色的表面。
If life did bloom on Mars, it might have left behind some proof.
如果生命真的在火星上开花 它可能会留下一些证据
Ancient Greeks named their god of war Ares.
古希腊人取名他们的战神阿瑞斯.
Ancient Romans named their god of war Mars.
古罗马人命名他们的战神火星.
Roving Around Mars Besides Earth, Mars is the most studied planet in our solar system.
环游火星 除了地球 火星是我们太阳系中研究最多的行星.
Humans have sent many space probes to Mars to look for life and study its geology.
人类已经向火星派出了众多太空探测器来寻找生命并研究其地理学.
The most famous missions involve robotic rovers.
最出名的任务包括机器人骑行.
In 1996, the United States launched the Pathfinder probe.
1996年,美国发射了开拓者号探测器.
The probe landed on Mars on July 4, 1997.
探测器于1997年7月4日降落火星.
Two days later, a six-wheeled rover named Sojourner began roaming the Martian surface.
两天后,一个叫"Sojourner"的六轮漫游者开始漫游火星地表.
Sojourner’s findings showed scientists that Mars was more Earthlike than originally thought.
Sojourner的研究结果向科学家表明,火星比原先想象的更像地球.
In 2004, two other rovers— Spirit and Opportunity—arrived.
2004年,另外两名巡回演出者——精神和机会。
They landed on opposite sides of the planet.
他们降落在地球的对面。
These robots were more complex than Sojourner.
这些机器人比索约纳更复杂.
Their mission was supposed to last ninety days.
他们的任务应该持续90天
Spirit went silent in 2010, but Opportunity is still on the job.
Spirit在2010年沉默了,但机会仍在工作。
Mobile Science Lab If there is life on Mars, Curiosity has a good chance of finding it.
移动科学实验室 如果火星上有生命的话 好奇心有找到它的机会
It is the brainiest Mars rover ever—a science lab on wheels.
这是有史以来最聪明的火星漫游者 轮子上的科学实验室
On August 5, 2012, the rover wasted no time in getting to work after landing.
2012年8月5日,"漫游者"在登陆后没有浪费时间去上班.
Curiosity popped the protective dust covers off its cameras and turned on its weather station.
好奇心将保护尘埃盖从相机上冲出,并打开了气象站。
It took its first images and beamed them back to Earth.
它拿走了它的第一批图像,把它们束回地球.
Curiosity is outfitted with many newly designed pieces of equipment, including 3-D cameras.
好奇心配备了许多新设计的设备,包括三维相机.
Scientists can now view the Martian landscape as if they were walking on the planet themselves.
科学家现在可以将火星地貌看成自己在地球上行走.
Chemcam (6) Wheels, 3 per side (2) Right navcams Left and right front hazcams Sojourner Spirit or Opportunity Curiosity Right mastcam Left mastcam Not shown: left and right rear hazcams (2 pairs) (2) Left navcams Scientists standing with test models of the three rovers that have been sent to Mars.
Chemcam (6) 轮子,每边有3个相机 (2) 右相机 左相机 右相机 左相机 左相机 右相机 左相机 右相机 左相机 右相机 左相机 右相机 左相机 左相机 右相机 右相机 右相机 左相机 右相机 右相机 左相机 右相机 右相机 左相机 右相机 右相机 右相机 左相机 右相机 右相机 右相机 左相机 右相机 右相机 左相机 右相机 相机 右相机 右相机 左相机 右相机 右相机 左相机 相机 左相机 左相机 右相机 左相机 左相机 右相机 右相机 右相机 右相机 右相机 左相机 左相机 左相机 左相机 左相机 左相机 (2) 左取相机 科学家与已发至火星的三道旋转道的试验模型站在一起.
Some of the equipment found on Curiosity Roving Around Mars Besides Earth, Mars is the most studied planet in our solar system.
火星是太阳系中研究最多的行星。
Humans have sent many space probes to Mars to look for life and study its geology.
人类已经向火星派出了众多太空探测器来寻找生命并研究其地理学.
The most famous missions involve robotic rovers.
最出名的任务包括机器人骑行.
In 1996, the United States launched the Pathfinder probe.
1996年,美国发射了开拓者号探测器.
The probe landed on Mars on July 4, 1997.
探测器于1997年7月4日降落火星.
Two days later, a six-wheeled rover named Sojourner began roaming the Martian surface.
两天后,一个叫"Sojourner"的六轮漫游者开始漫游火星地表.
Sojourner’s findings showed scientists that Mars was more Earthlike than originally thought.
Sojourner的研究结果向科学家表明,火星比原先想象的更像地球.
In 2004, two other rovers— Spirit and Opportunity—arrived.
2004年,另外两名巡回演出者——精神和机会。
They landed on opposite sides of the planet.
他们降落在地球的对面。
These robots were more complex than Sojourner.
这些机器人比索约纳更复杂.
Their mission was supposed to last ninety days.
他们的任务应该持续90天
Spirit went silent in 2010, but Opportunity is still on the job.
Spirit在2010年沉默了,但机会仍在工作。
Curiosity also has a rock-blasting laser.
好奇心还拥有一款起爆岩激光.
Once the laser zaps a rock, special instruments examine the gases that spew into the air.
一旦激光扎普斯一岩石,特殊仪器检查了喷入空气的气体.
The rover also has a drill that can grind bits of boulders into dust.
漫游者还有能将几分巨石磨成粉尘的钻头.
Curiosity can look at the dust and determine the makeup of the minerals and chemicals.
好奇心可以看清尘埃,确定矿物和化学物质的构成.
The rover can also scoop up and study bits of Martian dirt.
漫游者也可以挖出并研究火星泥土的分点.
What exactly are Curiosity and the NASA scientists looking for?
好奇心和太空总署的科学家到底在找什么?
The rover’s mission is to search for the building blocks of life.
漫游者的任务是寻找生命的基石。
These include carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and other elements.
其中包括碳,氢,氮,氧等元素.
If Curiosity finds these elements, it means life may now exist, or in the past have existed, on the Red Planet.
如果好奇心发现了这些元素,它意味着生命现在可能存在,或者在过去已经存在,在"红色星球"上.
Mars Attacks On the night of October 30, 1938, many Americans gathered in their living rooms and listened to the radio.
火星攻击 1938年10月30日晚,许多美国人聚集在起居室并收听收音机.
On that night, they heard something shocking.
当晚,他们听到一些令人震惊的声音.
“ A huge flaming object” had smashed into a New Jersey farm.
“一具巨大的起火物体”被撞入了新泽西的一个农场。
The Martians were invading!
火星人入侵了这里!
People in and around New York City panicked.
纽约市内外的人恐慌了
They called the police.
他们报警了
They called newspapers.
他们叫报纸
They called radio stations.
他们叫电台
Should they get out of town?
他们应该出城吗?
How should they protect themselves?
他们应该如何保护自己?
People didn’t really have to worry.
人们不必担心。
The broadcast was a radio play called “The War of the Worlds.”
该广播是一部名为“世界战争”的广播剧。 “
The play was based on a novel by H.
该剧取材于由H出品的小说.
G.
（H.G.的后半部分）
Wells.
威尔斯 Wells.
At the beginning of the broadcast, an actor named Orson Welles (above) told listeners that the “invasion” was not real.
在广播开始时,一位名叫Orson Welles(以上)的演员告诉听众,“入侵”不是真实的。
Many people did not hear the introduction, however.
然而,许多人没有听到介绍。
They really thought Mars was attacking Earth.
他们真的认为火星正在攻击地球.
Mission name: Mars Science Laboratory Size: 10 feet long, 9 feet wide, and 7 feet tall Weight: 2,000 pounds (900 kg)—about the weight of a small car Launched: November 26, Landed: 10:32 p.
任务名称: 火星科学 实验室尺寸:长10英尺,宽9英尺,高7英尺 重量:2000磅(900公斤)——大约是一辆车的重量 发射: 11月26日,"登陆":10:32页.
m.
（字母m）
Time), August 6, 2012 Length of mission on Mars: One Mars year (about 23 Earth months) Curious Facts Curiosity’s power comes from electricity produced by plutonium, a fuel used in nuclear power plants.
时间,2012年8月6日 在火星上执行任务的时间:一年火星(约23个地球月) 核电厂使用的燃料钚发电,
Curiosity at a Glance Mars Attacks On the night of October 30, 1938, many Americans gathered in their living rooms and listened to the radio.
奇特的一幕火星攻击 1938年10月30日晚,许多美国人聚集在起居室并收听收音机.
On that night, they heard something shocking.
当晚,他们听到一些令人震惊的声音.
“ A huge flaming object” had smashed into a New Jersey farm.
“一具巨大的起火物体”被撞入了新泽西的一个农场。
The Martians were invading!
火星人入侵了这里!
People in and around New York City panicked.
纽约市内外的人恐慌了
They called the police.
他们报警了
They called newspapers.
他们叫报纸
They called radio stations.
他们叫电台
Should they get out of town?
他们应该出城吗?
How should they protect themselves?
他们应该如何保护自己?
People didn’t really have to worry.
人们不必担心。
The broadcast was a radio play called “The War of the Worlds.”
该广播是一部名为“世界战争”的广播剧。 “
The play was based on a novel by H.
该剧取材于由H出品的小说.
G.
（H.G.的后半部分）
Wells.
威尔斯 Wells.
At the beginning of the broadcast, an actor named Orson Welles (above) told listeners that the “invasion” was not real.
在广播开始时,一位名叫Orson Welles(以上)的演员告诉听众,“入侵”不是真实的。
Many people did not hear the introduction, however.
然而,许多人没有听到介绍。
They really thought Mars was attacking Earth.
他们真的认为火星正在攻击地球.
Driving Curiosity Some people drive buses for a living.
驾驶好奇心 一些人以公交车为生.
Others drive taxicabs.
其他人开出租车
Still others drive delivery vans.
还有其他人开着快递车
When Matt Heverly is on the job, he drives Curiosity.
当马特 赫弗利在工作 他开着好奇心
Mars is about twice the size of Earth’s moon.
火星大约是地球月球的两倍.
Yet, the rover is motoring only in one neighborhood, called Gale Crater.
然而,漫游者只在一个街区开车,叫"Gale Crater".
A meteor created the crater about three billion years ago.
一颗陨石在大约30亿年前创造了该陨石坑.
The hole is the size of Connecticut and Rhode Island combined.
洞口是康涅狄格州和罗德岛州合并的大小.
Inside the crater is a mountain taller than Mount Rainier, which towers over Seattle, Washington.
该陨坑内部有一座比兰尼埃山更高的山峰,而兰尼埃山则位于华盛顿州西雅图上空.
Scientists think they have the best opportunity to find evidence of life inside this crater.
科学家认为他们有最佳的机会找到这个陨石坑内的生命证据.
That’s because scientists believe Gale Crater was once flooded with water.
科学家相信Gale Crater曾经被水淹没。
As a result, the crater is packed with clays and sulfates—types of minerals.
因此,该陨坑被粘土和硫酸盐所包裹——矿物类型。
These minerals are byproducts of water.
这些矿物是水的副产品.
Curiosity will study the soil to see if any microbes are hiding inside.
好奇心会研究土壤 看看有没有微生物藏在里面
Scientists think they have the best opportunity to find evidence of life inside Gale Crater Driving Curiosity is a hard job; one bad turn could doom the mission.
科学家认为,他们有最佳的机会在盖尔-克里特驾驶好奇心中找到生命的证据是一件艰难的工作;一个糟糕的转折可能会使任务落空.
That’s why Heverly meets with scientists to talk about where the rover should go before he gets behind the wheel or, in this case, the computer.
因此赫弗利与科学家会面, 讨论在轮子后,
Once in the driver’s seat, Heverly must put on special glasses to study the 3-D images that Curiosity sends back.
一旦进入驾驶座,赫弗利必须戴上特殊的眼镜来研究好奇心寄回的三维图像.
He then uses a computer program that simulates the route.
然后他使用模拟路线的计算机程序.
Heverly enters hundreds of computer commands that steer the craft.
赫弗利进入了数百个指挥飞船的计算机指令.
Curiosity crawled only thirty feet a day when it first landed.
好奇心一天只爬了30英尺 当它第一次着陆。
Curious Facts The temperature on Mars can dip below –81 degrees Fahrenheit (–62.
好奇的事实 火星上温度可低于-81华氏度(-62.
78°C).
78摄氏度）。
Heated liquids pump through Curiosity to keep the rover warm.
加热液体通过好奇心泵出来保持漫游者温暖.
Mars: Rover Curiosity Landing Site Curious Facts The temperature on Mars can dip below –81 degrees Fahrenheit (–62.
火星:漫游者好奇地登陆地点 火星上温度可低于-81华氏度(-62.
78°C).
78摄氏度）。
Heated liquids pump through Curiosity to keep the rover warm.
加热液体通过好奇心泵出来保持漫游者温暖.
Scientists think they have the best opportunity to find evidence of life inside Gale Crater This photo shows the path Curiosity will take as it explores the surface of Mars.
科学家认为他们有最好的机会 找到生命的证据 高尔断层 这张照片显示了好奇心在探索火星表面时将走的道路.
This photo shows the path Curiosity will take as it explores the surface of Mars.
这张照片显示了好奇心在探索火星表面时将走的道路.
Listening In Talking to Curiosity is more complicated than picking up a smartphone and calling a friend.
聆听好奇心的谈话比接智能手机和给朋友打电话更复杂.
The rover can send messages directly to Earth.
漫游者可以直接向地球发送信息.
It can also relay signals by using three satellites orbiting Mars.
它还可以通过使用环绕火星运行的三颗卫星来传递信号.
Scientists send and receive the signals using a system of giant antenna dishes (see diagram).
科学家使用巨型天线盘系统发送并接收信号(见图).
The system is called the Deep Space Network.
该系统被称作"深空网".
The huge dishes are located near Madrid, Spain; Canberra, Australia; and the Mojave Desert in California.
巨大的菜肴分布在西班牙马德里附近;澳大利亚堪培拉;加利福尼亚州的莫哈韦沙漠.
Scientists will be listening—at least for the next two years—as Curiosity drives along the Martian landscape, hoping to see if anyone else is out there.
科学家们将会聆听, 至少在接下来的两年里,