NASA半人馬座火箭的神祕回歸：英語精讀講義

On the 6th of February, 2018,

2018年2月6日，

the Falcon Heavy launched Starman

獵鷹重型火箭發射了「星俠」

and his Tesla Roadster into space.

和他的特斯拉Roadster跑車進入太空。

After leaving Earth, Starman ended up on an orbit around the Sun. 片語動詞

離開地球後，星俠最終進入了環繞太陽的軌道。

The chances of Starman coming back to Earth are extremely low. 文法

星俠重返地球的機率極低。

Its orbit isn't expected to intersect Earth until 2047.

預計它的軌道要到2047年才會與地球相交。

Even when this happens, 文法

即使到了那時，

it will only pass by briefly at a distance of 2 million miles. 片語動詞

它也只是在200萬英里的距離上短暫飛越。

After this close encounter,

在這次近距離接觸之後，

it will continue on its orbit around the Sun,

它將繼續在環繞太陽的軌道上運行，

not returning to Earth for at least another few decades.

至少在未來幾十年內不會再回到地球。

Throughout the history of spaceflight,

縱觀航天史，

we have launched hundreds of objects beyond Earth's orbit.

我們已經向地球軌道之外發射了數百個物體。

Some objects like the Voyager space probes

像航海家號太空探測器這樣的一些物體，

have even gone fast enough to leave the solar system.

甚至已經達到了足以飛出太陽系的速度。

Once something is sent into space,

物體一旦被送入太空，

that is usually the last goodbye.

通常就意味著最後的告別。

And unless something is specifically designed to return,

除非某些物體被專門設計用於返回，

these objects are destined to spend the rest of their lives in space. 片語搭配

否則這些物體注定要在太空中度過餘生。

Natural objects, however, enter Earth's atmosphere every day.

然而，天然物體每天都會進入地球大氣層。

Most of these are large fragments of asteroids

它們大多數是小行星的大塊碎片，

that broke apart a long time ago in our solar system. 片語動詞

很久以前就在我們的太陽系中解體了。

Some of these are large enough to survive the intense journey through Earth's atmosphere 文法

其中有一些體積足夠大，能撐過穿越地球大氣層的激烈旅程，

and reach the surface.

最終到達地表。

Back in September of this year,

就在今年9月，

astronomers were observing some of these asteroids

天文學家們正在觀察其中的一些小行星，

using the NASA survey telescope on the island of Maui.

他們使用的是位於毛伊島的NASA巡天望遠鏡。

This specific group of astronomers

這一組天文學家

were focusing on asteroids headed in the direction of Earth.

當時正專注於研究朝地球方向飛行的小行星。

They discovered an object that was heading toward Earth with some unusual characteristics.

他們發現了一個正朝地球飛來的物體，其特徵有些不同尋常。

Everybody stay calm.

大家保持冷靜。

What's the procedure, everyone?

各位，按什麼程序走？

What's the procedure? Stay calm!

按什麼程序走？保持冷靜！

This object flew past the Moon at 3,000 km/h,

這個物體以3000公里/小時的速度飛過月球，

much slower than the typical speed of an asteroid, 文法

遠低於小行星的一般速度，

which can sometimes reach tens of thousands of kilometers per hour. 片語搭配

小行星的速度有時可以達到每小時數萬公里。

Most asteroids have a more oval-shaped orbit

大多數小行星的軌道更偏向橢圓形，

on a plane that's tilted compared to Earth.

且其軌道平面相對於地球是傾斜的。

Initial calculations of this object showed

對該物體的初步計算表明，

that it had a very circular orbit around the Sun,

它有一個非常圓的環日軌道，

similar to that of Earth.

與地球的軌道相似。

On further inspection, 表達脈絡

經過進一步觀察，

the orbital plane of this object wasn't tilted,

該物體的軌道平面並沒有傾斜，

and in fact, perfectly matched the orbital plane of Earth.

事實上，它與地球的軌道平面完全吻合。

This low velocity paired with an Earth-like orbit 片語搭配

這種低速加上類似地球的軌道，

made the astronomers think that it wasn't an asteroid, 講解

讓天文學家認為它不是小行星，

but in fact, an artificial object that originated from Earth.

而是起源於地球的人造物體。

They continued to observe this object and gave it the name 2020-SO.

他們繼續觀察這個物體，並將其命名為2020-SO。

After further analysis and tracing back its orbit, 片語動詞

經過進一步分析並追溯其軌道，

they found that object 2020 made a close approach to Earth back in 1966. 片語搭配

他們發現2020號物體曾在1966年近距離飛越地球。

Looking through the launch archives from this time period,

翻閱這一時期的發射檔案，

they found a mission that lined up with this almost perfectly, 片語動詞

他們發現有一個任務與此幾乎完全吻合，

the Surveyor 2 mission.

即測量員2號任務。

Lifting off from Cape Canaveral on an Atlas-Centaur rocket,

測量員2號搭乘擎天神-半人馬火箭從卡納維拉爾角升空，

Surveyor 2 headed for the Moon.

飛向月球。

It was destined to conduct experiments on the lunar surface

它注定要在月球表面進行實驗，

and send back detailed images that would help NASA plan for the upcoming Apollo missions.

並傳回詳細的圖像，以幫助NASA為即將到來的阿波羅任務做準備。

After all,

畢竟，

humans were just 3 years away from walking on the Moon, 文法

距離人類漫步月球只有3年時間了，

and yet very little was known about the world they would be entering.

然而對於他們即將進入的這個世界，人類卻知之甚少。

After launch,

發射後，

the Centaur upper stage placed the spacecraft on a path toward the Moon.

半人馬上面級將太空船送入飛向月球的軌道。

But as Surveyor tried to refine its path,

但當測量員號試圖修正軌道時，

one of its thrusters failed and caused the spacecraft to lose control 文法

其中一個推進器發生故障，導致太空船失控，

until it hit the Moon at almost 10,000 km/h.

直到它以近10000公里/小時的速度撞向月球。

The Centaur upper stage continued on,

而半人馬上面級則繼續飛行，

flying past the Moon, and entering into an unknown orbit around the Sun.

飛越月球，進入了一條未知的環日軌道。

For decades,

幾十年來，

this rocket booster was out there doing laps around the Sun, 慣用語

這個火箭助推器一直在那裡繞著太陽轉圈，

but its orbit was slowly being changed by the continuous pressure from the Sun.

但它的軌道正被太陽持續的壓力慢慢改變。

The radiation which blasts out from the Sun

太陽爆發出的輻射

exerts a small but constant force on objects in space, 片語搭配

對太空中的物體施加了一股微小但持續的力，

like a very gentle breeze. 表達脈絡

就像一陣非常輕柔的微風。

Since the Centaur booster is essentially an empty metal tube,

由於半人馬助推器本質上是一個空的金屬管，

it's very lightweight,

它的重量非常輕，

but still has a large surface area.

但仍具有很大的表面積。

This makes it much more susceptible to the solar winds than a dense and heavy asteroid. 用詞

這使得它比緻密沉重的小行星更容易受到太陽風的影響。

After observing this gradual change in orbit,

在觀察到這種軌道的漸變後，

astronomers confirmed that this couldn't be an asteroid 文法

天文學家確認這不可能是小行星，

and it must be something made by humans.

肯定是人類製造的東西。

But the astronomers still weren't sure if this object really was

但天文學家仍然無法確定這個物體是否真的是

the Centaur rocket from the '60s making a surprise return to Earth.

60年代的半人馬火箭出人意料地返回了地球。

2020 was on a trajectory to enter Earth's orbit in November,

2020號物體的軌道軌跡使其在11月進入了地球軌道，

and the astronomers calculated that it would make several close approaches during its stay

天文學家計算出，在它停留期間會有幾次近距離接近地球，

before returning to an orbit around the Sun in March.

然後在3月份重返環日軌道。

This would be a great chance to observe the object in more detail

這將是一個更詳細地觀察該物體的絕佳機會，

and determine if it really was the Centaur rocket.

以確定它是否真的是半人馬火箭。

However, this object was incredibly faint

然而，這個物體極其黯淡，

and required some of the world's most powerful telescopes to even see it.

甚至需要動用世界上最強大的望遠鏡才能看到它。

At its closest approach,

在它最接近地球時，

it would reach an apparent magnitude of just 14. 文化背景

其視星等也才勉強達到14等。

On the magnitude scale,

在星等標度上，

objects only become visible to the human eye once they reach six or below.

只有當星等達到6或更低時，物體肉眼才可見。

To put this into perspective, 表達脈絡

為了更直觀地說明這一點，

most of the planets in our solar system have a magnitude below one,

太陽系中大多數行星的星等都低於1等，

and even they can be difficult to spot with the naked eye. 片語搭配

甚至連它們也很難用肉眼發現。

The only way scientists could prove this was the Centaur rocket 文法

科學家能證明它是半人馬火箭的唯一方法，

would be to find out if it was made from the same material,

就是查明它是否由相同的材料製成，

301 stainless steel.

即301不鏽鋼。

In order to do this,

為了做到這一點，

scientists took over NASA's infrared telescope in Hawaii 片語動詞

科學家們接管了NASA位於夏威夷的紅外望遠鏡，

and began doing spectroscopy observations.

並開始進行光譜觀測。

This telescope has a 3-m wide mirror

這台望遠鏡擁有一面3公尺寬的反射鏡，

and is located at an altitude of 4,000 m on top of a mountain.

位於海拔4000公尺的山頂上。

It can measure a wide range of wavelengths in the infrared spectrum,

它可以測量紅外光譜中很大範圍的波長，

allowing it to perform spectroscopy observations.

從而能夠執行光譜觀測。

This technique is often used to study the atmosphere of distant exoplanets 文法

這項技術經常被用來研究遙遠系外行星的大氣層，

to determine what elements they are made of.

以確定它們是由什麼元素組成的。

As a planet passes in front of its star,

當行星從它的恆星前方經過時，

the molecules in the atmosphere absorb light at specific wavelengths.

大氣中的分子會吸收特定波長的光。

By observing these dips at specific wavelengths, 文法

通過觀察這些特定波長處的下降，

we can compare it to the data we have here on Earth

我們可以將其與我們在地球上擁有的數據進行比較，

and determine which atoms and molecules are present in the atmosphere.

從而確定大氣中存在哪些原子和分子。

The same technique can be used on a solid object to determine its material.

同樣的技術也可以用於固體物體，以確定其材質。

The atoms and molecules that make up stainless steel 片語動詞

構成不鏽鋼的原子和分子

will emit and absorb light at very specific wavelengths.

會在非常特定的波長下發射和吸收光。

So the scientists took spectral measurements of object 2020

因此，科學家們對2020號物體進行了光譜測量，

and compared it to measurements made of stainless steel here on Earth.

並將其與地球上不鏽鋼的測量結果進行了比較。

With this data,

有了這些數據，

the scientists could compare the two measurements

科學家們就可以比較這兩種測量結果，

and see if they had similar light behavior.

看看它們是否具有相似的光學行為。

The data showed some similarities,

數據顯示出了一些相似之處，

but the match was far from perfect. 慣用語

但匹配度遠非完美。

They realized that the differences in results could have been from observing ordinary stainless steel

他們意識到結果的差異可能是因為他們用普通的不鏽鋼

against stainless steel which had been exposed to the harsh conditions of outer space for 54 years. 片語搭配

去跟在嚴酷外太空環境中暴露了54年的不鏽鋼進行了比較。

In order to get a real match,

為了獲得真正的匹配結果，

they would need to compare it to a piece of stainless steel

他們需要將其與另一塊

that has also seen the harshness of space.

同樣經歷過太空嚴酷環境的不鏽鋼進行比較。

Luckily, there have been 245 Centaur launches since 1962, 文法

幸運的是，自1962年以來，半人馬火箭共發射了245次，

and many of the old stages still remain in Earth's orbit.

許多廢棄的火箭級仍留在地球軌道上。

But observing one of these old rocket stages for long enough would be a massive challenge.

但要對這些舊火箭級進行足夠長時間的觀察，將是一項巨大的挑戰。

Objects in Earth's orbit can move across the sky at an incredible speed.

地球軌道上的物體在天空中移動的速度快得驚人。

This means NASA's infrared telescope

這意味著NASA的紅外望遠鏡

would struggle to lock on to the object for long enough to get a good amount of data. 講解

很難長時間鎖定該物體以獲取足夠的數據。

They chose to observe a Centaur rocket stage which launched in 1971,

他們選擇觀察一個在1971年發射的半人馬火箭級，

taking a communication satellite into orbit.

該火箭當時將一顆通信衛星送入了軌道。

Despite the challenge,

儘管困難重重，

the scientists managed to lock on to the 49-year-old rocket

科學家們還是成功鎖定了這枚擁有49年歷史的火箭，

and gather all the data they needed.

並收集了所有需要的數據。

This happened on the same day that object 2020 made its closest approach to Earth.

這碰巧發生在2020號物體最接近地球的同一天。

The data came back

數據傳回後，

and the spectrum graph of this old rocket stage perfectly matched that of object 2020. 文法

這個舊火箭級的光譜圖與2020號物體的光譜圖完美匹配。

This proved that object 2020 was made of 301 stainless steel

這證明2020號物體是由301不鏽鋼製成的，

and was undoubtedly the lost Centaur booster from 1966.

並且毫無疑問就是1966年丟失的半人馬助推器。

So as we continue to launch more and more objects into space,

因此，隨著我們向太空發射越來越多的物體，

our ability to detect which objects are heading toward Earth will become increasingly important.

我們探測哪些物體正朝地球飛來的能力將變得越來越重要。

As our presence in space increases and our technology becomes more advanced,

隨著我們在太空中的活動不斷增加，以及我們的技術變得更加先進，

observing objects like this will become much more routine.

像這樣觀察物體將成為更尋常的事。

For object 2020,

對於2020號物體來說，

it will leave Earth's orbit in March and continue orbiting the Sun

它將在3月份離開地球軌道，繼續繞太陽運行，

until it eventually returns to Earth again in the distant future.

直到在遙遠的未來再次返回地球。

Like Starman,

就像星俠一樣，

these objects are on a journey that us humans could never imagine. 文法

這些物體正在進行一場我們人類無法想像的旅程。

But due to the laws of physics,

但受物理定律的影響，

they always end up coming home at some point. 慣用語

它們總會在某個時刻回到原點。

When 2020 eventually returns to Earth again,

當2020號物體最終再次回到地球時，

who knows how far our technology will have advanced and what kind of things we will be doing in space? 文法

誰知道我們的技術會進步到什麼程度，又會在太空中做些什麼呢？