為什麼SpaceX買下了一整座村莊：英語精讀講義

In the summer of 2012,

2012 年夏天，

SpaceX were looking to expand their rocket launching business outside Florida.

SpaceX 正尋求在佛羅里達州之外擴展其火箭發射業務。

At the time,

當時，

the company had only flown their Falcon 9 rocket a handful of times. 片語搭配

該公司僅發射過幾次 Falcon 9 火箭。

But with a rapidly increasing launch schedule,

但隨著發射計畫急劇增加，

an additional launch site was required to meet their needs.

他們需要一個額外的發射場來滿足需求。

They started looking at a small village in Texas called Boca Chica,

他們開始考察德克薩斯州一個名叫 Boca Chica 的小村莊，

where they could start building their own private spaceport.

打算在那裡建立自己的私人太空港。

Boca Chica is a tiny community in Cameron County

Boca Chica 是 Cameron County 的一個微型社區，

made up of just 35 houses. 片語動詞

僅由 35 棟房屋組成。

For years,

多年來，

it has been the dream spot for retirees and vacationers

這裡一直是退休人員和度假者的理想勝地，

with waterfront properties far away from civilization.

擁有遠離城市喧囂的濱水房產。

The village is located on such a quiet and untouched piece of land 文法

這個村子坐落在如此寧靜、未受破壞的土地上，

that water must be trucked into the community once a month.

以至於每個月都必須用卡車把水運進社區。

Basic errands like grocery shopping require a 40-minute commute

像買菜這樣的基本差事都需要通勤 40 分鐘，

into the nearest city of Brownsville.

去往最近的城市 Brownsville。

This raises the question, 表達脈絡

這就引出了一個問題：

why would SpaceX choose such a poor and desolate part of the country

SpaceX 為什麼會選擇在這個國家如此貧窮和荒涼的地方

to start building their future spaceport.

開始建設未來的太空港呢？

Despite the lack of basic infrastructure or a skilled workforce, 文法

儘管缺乏基礎設施和熟練勞動力，

the quiet town of Boca Chica actually had a lot to offer SpaceX.

但寧靜的 Boca Chica 實際上有很多值得 SpaceX 看重的地方。

Along with the abundance of cheap land and nearby access to the sea, 文法

除了大量廉價土地和靠近大海的優勢外，

Boca Chica also had a low population density,

Boca Chica 的人口密度也很低，

making it the perfect location to launch and land rockets. 文法

使其成為發射和降落火箭的絕佳地點。

The state of Texas was also offering a 15 million dollar incentive

德克薩斯州還提供了 1,500 萬美元的獎勵，

for them to build their spaceport in Texas.

鼓勵他們在德州建造太空港。

So SpaceX chose Boca Chica as their future spaceport

因此 SpaceX 選擇 Boca Chica 作為未來的太空港，

and broke ground in 2014. 慣用語

並於 2014 年動工。

Although the Falcon 9's launch schedule was at an all-time high, 片語搭配

儘管 Falcon 9 的發射計畫達到了歷史最高水準，

several years went by without any construction at the site. 片語動詞

但好幾年過去了，該場地卻沒有任何建設進展。

By this point,

此時，

many assumed that SpaceX had changed their mind 片語搭配

許多人以為 SpaceX 已經改變了主意，

about building their new spaceport in Boca Chica.

不打算在 Boca Chica 建造新太空港了。

But life in the little town of Boca Chica

但是，Boca Chica 這個小鎮的生活

was about to change forever. 文法

即將永遠改變。

In December 2018,

2018 年 12 月，

a local resident shared an image of a new structure at the SpaceX site.

一位當地居民分享了 SpaceX 場地上一座新建築的照片。

These images quickly spread around the space community

這些照片迅速在航太界傳開，

and many suggested that the structure could in fact be the beginnings 表達脈絡

許多人猜測，這個建築實際上可能是

of SpaceX's new Starship rocket.

SpaceX 新型 Starship 火箭的雛形。

At the time,

當時，

this seemed like a crazy theory

這聽起來像是個瘋狂的理論，

and most people assumed that this was simply a new water tower

大多數人認為這不過是新建的一個水塔，

being built for the site.

是專門為該場地建造的。

But after rounds of speculation,

但在幾輪猜測之後，

SpaceX revealed that this structure really was the beginnings

SpaceX 透露，這個建築確實是

of a rocket called Starhopper,

一枚名為 Starhopper 的火箭的雛形，

designed as an early test bed for Starship. 用詞

它是為 Starship 設計的早期測試平台。

As the months went on, 表達脈絡

隨著幾個月過去，

SpaceX's presence in the community grew

SpaceX 在社區中的存在感越來越強，

and soon they were ready to test Starhopper.

很快他們就準備好測試 Starhopper 了。

With local residents documenting every move,

在當地居民記錄著每一個舉動的情況下，

Starhopper took to the sky in a spectacular show, 慣用語

Starhopper 在一場壯觀的表演中升上天空，

coming back down to land under its own propulsion.

然後依靠自身動力降落回地面。

While this test was a major achievement for SpaceX,

雖然這次測試是 SpaceX 的一項重大成就，

it didn't come without its disturbances. 表達脈絡

但並非沒有造成干擾。

During the test,

在測試期間，

residents had to remain outside their homes

居民們不得不待在屋外，

to avoid getting injured by shattering windows.

以免被震碎的窗戶玻璃弄傷。

As the weeks went on,

幾個星期過去後，

it was clear that SpaceX couldn't increase the scale

很明顯 SpaceX 無法在擴大

of their tests without putting the residents in danger. 片語搭配

其測試規模的同時，不讓居民陷入危險。

So,

因此，

SpaceX began the process of buying out the entire town 片語動詞

SpaceX 開始了買下整個小鎮的程序，

and sent letters to residents offering to buy their homes

並向居民發送信件，提出要收購他們的房屋，

at three times the market value. 文法

價格為市場價值的三倍。

Although many residents accepted the offer,

儘管許多居民接受了這個提議，

many understandably declined and refused to give up their dream life 片語動詞

但許多人理所當然地拒絕了，他們不願放棄自己夢想中的生活，

to a company that could easily offer so much more.

尤其是賣給一家本可輕易出價更高的公司。

With an average property value of around $80,000,

按照大約 80,000 美元的平均房產價值計算，

SpaceX would have spent at least $8.5 million

SpaceX 至少要花費 850 萬美元

to buy out every house.

才能買下每一棟房子。

But for the residents who were being pressured to move,

但對於那些被迫搬遷的居民來說，

even a triple value offer wouldn't be enough 文法

即使是三倍的估價也不足以

to find a similar home in a different location.

讓他們在其他地方找到類似的家。

While SpaceX doesn't have the right to kick residents out of their homes, 片語動詞

雖然 SpaceX 沒有權利把居民趕出家門，

the county does. 文法

但縣政府有。

And while the county wants to avoid evicting people

儘管縣政府想要避免強行驅逐

from their homes,

居民離開他們的家園，

they have an opportunity to create a thriving industry

但他們有機會創造一個繁榮的產業，

and provide high-paying jobs

並提供高薪工作，

to one of the most economically depressed regions of the country. 用詞

為全國經濟最蕭條的地區之一注入活力。

This is where eminent domain comes in. 文化背景

這就是土地徵收權起作用的地方。

Texas law states that private property may only be taken 文法

德克薩斯州法律規定，私人財產只能

by a government or private entity that is authorized to do so,

由政府或有授權的私人實體徵用，

meaning that Cameron County could give SpaceX the right to seize the properties.

這意味著 Cameron County 可以賦予 SpaceX 徵用財產的權利。

However,

然而，

these legal requirements also state that seizing any property

這些法律要求也規定，徵用任何財產

must only occur for a purpose that benefits the general public. 用詞

都必須出於造福公眾的目的。

While Texas does not allow eminent domain for the benefit

雖然德克薩斯州不允許為私人土地所有者的利益

of private landowners,

而行使徵收權，

there is an alternative which would involve SpaceX giving the land 片語動詞

但還有個變通辦法，即 SpaceX 將土地

over to the government.

移交給政府。

This would not be ideal for SpaceX

這對 SpaceX 來說並不理想，

since they would risk losing control over their first privately-owned spaceport. 文法

因為他們將面臨失去對其首個私營太空港控制權的風險。

SpaceX decided to extend their deadline and increase offers

SpaceX 決定延長最後期限並提高報價，

for some of the remaining residents.

提供給部分留守居民。

Some residents were able to get their homes reevaluated

一些居民得以讓他們的房屋被重新估價，

since SpaceX hadn't taken into account the loss of business 慣用語

因為 SpaceX 之前沒有考慮到由於房屋作為 Airbnb 出租而產生的

for residents that were using their homes as an Airbnb.

業務損失。

As of March, 片語搭配

截至 3 月，

seven houses remain unsold to SpaceX

仍有七棟房屋未賣給 SpaceX，

and the negotiations could continue to go on for much longer.

並且談判可能會繼續進行很長一段時間。

SpaceX will likely do everything they can do

SpaceX 可能會盡其所能

to purchase the remaining properties and claim the village to themselves.

去購買剩餘的房產並將該村莊據為己有。

SpaceX recently hired hundreds of new workers

SpaceX 最近雇用了數百名新員工，

to create a constant 24-hour production line.

以建立一條連續 24 小時的生產線。

Although the residents of Boca Chica were essentially forced

儘管 Boca Chica 的居民基本上被迫

to give up their dream life,

放棄夢想的生活，

it will hopefully be an important sacrifice 表達脈絡

但這有望成為一項重要的犧牲，

for the exciting future that SpaceX are trying to create for everyone.

為了 SpaceX 努力為每個人創造的激動人心的未來。

Thank you very much for watching

非常感謝您的觀看，

and I'll see you in the next video.

我們下期影片再見。