我們今天如何建立月球基地 – 太空殖民 1：英語精讀講義

Humans dream about leaving Earth and traveling through the galaxy,

人類夢想著離開地球，在銀河系中遨遊，

but we were born too early to be part of it. 文法

但我們出生得太早，無法參與其中。

Or were we? 表達脈絡

或者是這樣嗎？

The reality is we could begin our dream by building a moon base today.

現實是，我們今天就可以透過建立月球基地來開啟我們的夢想。

We actually do have the technology 文法

我們確實擁有這樣的技術，

and current estimates from NASA and the private sector say it could be done for 20 to 40 billion dollars spread out over about a decade. 片語動詞

根據美國宇航局和私營部門的最新估計，在十年間大約花費200億到400億美元就可以完成。

The price is comparable to the International Space Station

這個價格與國際太空站的造價，

or the budget surplus of Germany in 2017.

或者是德國2017年的預算盈餘相當。

Not that big an investment really. 文法

這真的不是一筆很大的投資。

The payoff would be immeasurable.

其回報將是不可估量的。

The Moon is a sandbox to develop new technologies and exploit unlimited resources.

月球是一個開發新技術和開採無限資源的試驗場。

It would start a new space race and lay the foundation for us to spread out into the solar system and beyond. 片語搭配

它將開啟一場新的太空競賽，並為我們向太陽系及更遠的地方擴張奠定基礎。

It would create a vast array of new technologies to benefit us on Earth,

它將創造出大量造福地球人類的新技術，

and we would all be part of it.

我們都將參與其中。

So,

那麼，

why aren't we doing it?

我們為什麼不去做呢？

Well,

呃，

sadly,

令人遺憾的是，

it's hard to get governments interested in long-term investments in the future of humanity. 片語搭配

很難讓政府對人類未來的長期投資產生興趣。

Let's imagine just doing it. 表達脈絡

讓我們想像一下直接動手去做。

If we start today,

如果我們今天開始，

how would we build a moon base?

我們將如何建立一個月球基地？

Throughout history,

縱觀歷史，

colonization happened in phases.

殖民化是分階段進行的。

In the first phase of the Age of Exploration, 文化背景

在大航海時代的第一階段，

of the New World, for example,

比如針對新大陸的探索，

European monarchs funded expeditions to chart and discover

歐洲君主資助探險隊去繪製地圖和進行發現，

and to stake their claims. 片語搭配

並宣告他們的所有權。

They planted a flag and set up a camp, 片語動詞

他們插上旗幟，建立營地，

but they didn't stay.

但他們沒有留下來。

In the second phase,

在第二階段，

small missions set up outposts and settlements were founded,

小型任務建立了前哨站並建立起定居點，

which were still very dependent on their home countries for supplies. 片語搭配

但在物資上仍然非常仰賴其母國。

Some failed,

有些失敗了，

but others survived and established a permanent presence.

但有些倖存下來並確立了永久的駐紮。

Only then, in the third phase, 文法

只有到了第三階段，

did a true colony form

才會形成真正的殖民地，

to which tradesmen and laborers could emigrate,

商人和勞工可以移民到那裡，

creating new wealth and opportunities for themselves and their families,

為他們自己和家人創造新的財富和機會，

sending extreme wealth back to their countries of origin. 片語搭配

並將巨額財富送回他們的原籍國。

When we colonize the Moon,

當我們殖民月球時，

we'll go through the same three phases.

我們也將經歷同樣的三個階段。

This time,

這一次，

without murdering millions of innocent people in the process.

這個過程中不會有數以百萬計的無辜生靈遭到屠殺。

The Moon is not a welcoming place for living things.

月球並不是一個歡迎生物居住的地方。

A moon day lasts 29 Earth days,

一個月球日相當於29個地球日，

with a difference of maybe 300 °C between sunlight and shade.

日照和陰影之間的溫差可能達到300攝氏度。

There is no atmosphere to shield us from meteorites, 片語搭配

這裡沒有大氣層來保護我們免受隕石

big and small,

（無論大小）

or cosmic radiation.

或是宇宙輻射的傷害。

Worse still, 表達脈絡

更糟糕的是，

the lunar surface is covered in a layer of nasty jagged dust. 片語搭配

月球表面覆蓋著一層討厭的鋸齒狀塵埃。

The Moon is hard,

登月很難，

but we're good at doing hard things. 片語搭配

但我們擅長做困難的事情。

In the first phase of lunar colonization,

在月球殖民的第一階段，

our explorers proved it can be done,

我們的探險家證明了這是可行的，

that a new world can be reached.

一個新的世界是可以到達的。

This phase started 60 years ago with the Apollo missions. 文化背景

這個階段始於60年前的阿波羅計畫。

Since then, 表達脈絡

從那時起，

satellites like the American Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter have mapped the Moon, 文化背景

像美國「月球勘測軌道飛行器」這樣的衛星繪製了月球地圖，

while rovers like the Chinese Yutu have studied the composition of the lunar surface,

而像中國「玉兔號」這樣的月球車則研究了月球表面的成分，

looking for water ice and metals.

尋找水冰和金屬。

Phase one is more or less complete. 用詞

第一階段或多或少已經完成。

We know what we need to know to enter phase two.

我們已經掌握了進入第二階段所需知道的資訊。

In the second phase,

在第二階段，

astronauts will build the first moon base,

太空人將建立第一個月球基地，

and this could begin today.

而這在今天就可以開始。

The first small moon base could be completed in a decade.

第一個小型月球基地可能會在十年內建成。

The first nation that establishes this base will be akin to the first nations building outposts in the New World 500 years ago. 用詞

建立這個基地的第一個國家，將類似於500年前在新大陸建立前哨站的第一批國家。

It's expensive to send rockets to the Moon,

發射火箭到月球非常昂貴，

so we will send as little as possible.

所以我們會盡可能少地運送物資。

The base will be light,

這個基地會很輕便，

little more than inflatable habitats for crews of no more than 12, 用詞

基本上就是能容納不超過12名船員的充氣棲息地，

and will be deployed somewhere with natural shelter.

並且將被部署在有天然遮蔽物的地方。

Options include caves,

可選地點包括洞穴，

like underground lava tube tunnels,

比如地下的熔岩管隧道，

or craters near the poles,

或者是靠近極地的隕石坑，

where the days are six months long.

那裡的白天長達六個月。

These astronauts will not stay long.

這些太空人不會停留太久。

The habitat is likely to be abandoned between missions,

棲息地很可能會在任務之間的空窗期被廢棄，

as solar panels cannot generate electricity during the lunar night.

因為太陽能電池板在月球夜晚無法發電。

But they'll do the groundwork to enable humans to stay permanently. 片語搭配

但他們將為人類的永久停留打下基礎。

Our first crew will consist of scientists and engineers 片語搭配

我們的第一批船員將由科學家和工程師組成，

who will study the composition of the Moon

他們將研究月球的成分，

and whose experiments will explore ways of using the available lunar material,

並且他們的實驗將探索利用現有月球物質的方法，

say, purifying the lunar ice and turning it into water for human use.

比如，淨化月球冰並將其轉化為供人類使用的水。

And water is important for far more than drinking. 文法

而水的作用遠遠不止於飲用。

They can use it to experiment with growing plants for food.

他們可以用水來實驗種植食用植物。

Hydrogen fuel cells will store power through the long night,

氫燃料電池將在漫長的夜晚儲存電能，

extending astronauts' stays.

延長太空人的停留時間。

And most importantly,

最重要的是，

it can be split into hydrogen and oxygen,

它可以被分解成氫氣和氧氣，

rocket fuel.

也就是火箭燃料。

By harvesting water from the Moon and putting it into orbit, 文法

透過從月球上獲取水並將其送入軌道，

the moon base will supply an orbital depot 用詞

月球基地將為一個軌道燃料庫提供補給，

where scientific missions to Mars and the outer solar system can refuel.

前往火星和外太陽系的科學任務可以在那裡補充燃料。

Compared to the Earth, 文法

與地球相比，

it's much easier and cheaper to get things off the Moon into orbit.

從月球上將物體送入軌道要容易且便宜得多。

Colonizing Mars may mean starting from the Moon.

殖民火星可能意味著從月球開始。

But this isn't a true colony,

但這還不是一個真正的殖民地，

not yet.

還沒到那一步。

The base will be abandoned if funding stops.

如果資金停止，基地將被廢棄。

If we want our base to grow into the third phase,

如果我們希望我們的基地發展到第三階段，

into a true colony,

成為一個真正的殖民地，

it must become self-sufficient,

它必須實現自給自足，

supporting itself via exports to Earth. 文法

透過向地球出口來維持自身。

Now,

此時，

private contractors arrive,

私營承包商抵達，

looking to get rich off lunar resources and support services. 片語搭配

希望從月球資源和支持服務中致富。

If it's cheaper to produce rocket fuel in space,

如果在太空中生產火箭燃料更便宜，

what else can they get rich on?

他們還能透過什麼致富呢？

They could extract precious metals,

他們可以提取貴金屬，

abundant in impact craters,

它們在撞擊坑中十分豐富，

and other raw materials from the lunar regolith. 用詞

還可以從月球風化層中提取其他原材料。

One promising possibility is the mining of helium 3,

一個有希望的可能是開採氦-3，

an isotope that could one day be used in nuclear fusion reactors,

這是一種有朝一日可能用於核融合反應爐的同位素，

something the Chinese lunar exploration program is currently looking into. 片語動詞

也是中國探月工程目前正在研究的項目。

Future colonists may export helium 3 back to Earth,

未來的殖民者可能會將氦-3出口回地球，

providing us with cheap and clean fusion energy.

為我們提供廉價且清潔的融合能源。

Asteroids could be pulled into the Moon's orbit and mined.

小行星可能會被拉入月球軌道並進行開採。

With commercial exports to Earth,

隨著對地球進行商業出口，

the colony is fully in its third phase,

殖民地將完全進入第三階段，

self-sufficient, and economically productive.

也就是自給自足並在經濟上具備生產力。

Our base will begin using lunar material in its construction projects if it's to continue growing. 文法

如果我們的基地要繼續發展，它將開始在建築專案中使用月球材料。

Fortunately,

幸運的是，

lunar soil has all the necessary ingredients to make concrete.

月壤擁有製造混凝土的所有必要成分。

Robotic mining rigs can sift the lunar dust for organic molecules

機器人採礦平台可以在月球塵埃中篩選有機分子，

and could be used to build huge structures way too massive to be brought from Earth, 文法

並可用於建造無法從地球運送的巨大結構，

while advances in 3D printing will make it possible to produce almost everything else the crews need. 文法

而3D列印的進步將使生產船員所需的幾乎所有其他東西成為可能。

It's hard to say when exactly the colony becomes self-sustaining. 文法

很難說殖民地確切地在何時實現自給自足。

Growth is gradual,

增長是漸進的，

experiments are replaced by industry,

實驗被工業取代，

and the population steadily reaches the hundreds,

人口穩步達到數百人，

encompassing more than just scientists.

不僅僅只有科學家。

Engineers, pilots, and contractors representing countries and corporations will be present.

代表國家和企業的工程師、飛行員以及承包商都將在場。

Two of these people will make a breakthrough,

其中的兩個人將取得一項突破，

not scientific, 表達脈絡

不是科學上的，

but social.

而是社會學上的。

They will have the first extraterrestrial child.

他們將擁有第一個外星嬰兒。

Throughout history,

縱觀歷史，

the birth of the first child was celebrated as a moment where the seed of a colony finally and irreversibly took root. 慣用語

第一個孩子的誕生被慶祝為殖民地種子終於不可逆轉地紮根的時刻。

Here,

在這裡，

it means that the Moon is not just a place for scientists and engineers to work, 表達脈絡

這意味著月球不僅是科學家和工程師工作的地方，

it's a place for people to live,

更是人們生活、

to raise a family.

養家糊口的地方。

Once this transition happens,

一旦這一轉變發生，

the colony grows rapidly,

殖民地將迅速擴張，

building more habitats and schools and farms

建造更多的棲息地、學校和農場，

and all the things needed to support the growing population.

以及支持不斷增長的人口所需的一切事物。

As our colony grows,

隨著我們殖民地的發展，

all kinds of new technologies will be invented to sustain it.

各種旨在維持其運轉的新技術將被發明出來。

They might develop crops that efficiently recycle carbon dioxide

他們可能會開發出能有效回收二氧化碳的農作物，

or the grow with very little water.

或者極需少量水就能生長的農作物。

They might find ways to recycle and reuse 100% of their waste,

他們可能會找到100%回收和再利用廢棄物的方法，

technologies that are extremely valuable for Earth.

這些技術對地球來說極其寶貴。

They could even build the first space elevator in the solar system.

他們甚至可能建造太陽系中的第一部太空電梯。

With a space elevator,

有了太空電梯，

spacecraft, astronauts, and raw materials

太空船、太空人和原材料，

could be brought back and forth from lunar orbit without needing to use rockets at all. 片語搭配

可以往返於月球軌道而完全不需要使用火箭。

The Moon may become a hub for economic activity 片語搭配

月球可能成為經濟活動的樞紐，

on a scale that's hard to imagine right now.

其規模是現在難以想像的。

It's hard to say who will own the colony at this point.

很難說在這個階段誰將擁有這個殖民地。

Will the first person born on the Moon take the national identity of their parents,

第一個在月球上出生的人會採用他們父母的國籍嗎？

or will a new generation meld together into a new lunar society?

還是新一代會融合為一個新的月球社會？

And when existing treaties that bar any nation from owning the Moon 用詞

而且當禁止任何國家擁有月球的現行條約

are inevitably rewritten,

不可避免地被重寫時，

will the colonists be given a say? 片語搭配

殖民者會有發言權嗎？

Will they declare their independence from the Earth?

他們會宣佈獨立於地球嗎？

However it happens, 表達脈絡

無論事情如何發展，

the Moon is a perfect sandbox to learn how to colonize the solar system,

月球都是一個學習如何殖民太陽系的完美沙盒，

the perfect project to unify nations,

是一個團結各個國家的完美項目，

and the only way to guarantee our survival as a species should something tragic happen on Earth. 文法

也是在地球發生悲劇時，保證我們作為物種生存下來的唯一途徑。

If we ever want to colonize the Milky Way, 文法

如果我們想要殖民銀河系，

we'll have to start somewhere.

我們必須從某個地方開始。

So,

那麼，

why not start there?

為什麼不從那裡開始呢？

Why not start now? 語氣意圖

為什麼不現在開始呢？