阿波羅12號神祕的30年太空之旅：英語精讀講義

In September 2002,

2002年9月，

astronomers discovered this asteroid in an unusual orbit around the Earth.

天文學家發現這顆小行星正以不尋常的軌道繞地球運行。

This surprised the astronomers because,

這讓天文學家們感到非常驚訝，因為，

as far as they knew, 表達脈絡

據他們所知，

the only natural object that orbited Earth was the Moon.

唯一繞地球運行的自然天體是月球。

And so,

因此，

this strange object couldn't be an asteroid.

這個奇怪的物體不可能是一顆小行星。

It had to be something that was made by us. 文法

它肯定是我們人類製造的東西。

As it turned out,

結果證明，

this was in fact the Saturn V third stage,

這其實是農神5號火箭的第三級，

which launched the Apollo 12 astronauts to the Moon.

也就是將阿波羅12號太空人送上月球的那枚火箭。

This rocket left Earth in 1969 and went on a crazy journey unknown to everyone

這枚火箭於1969年離開地球，開始了一段無人知曉的瘋狂旅程，

before returning to Earth 30 years later.

然後在30年後又回到了地球。

But what happened to this rocket?

那麼，這枚火箭到底經歷了什麼？

And why did it end up on such a weird journey?

為什麼它最終會踏上如此離奇的旅程？

In this video,

在本期影片中，

we're going to look at how a tiny error in the Apollo 12 mission sent this rocket stage on a 30-year trip through space,

我們將一起來看，阿波羅12號任務中的一個小失誤，是如何讓這枚火箭級在太空中漂泊了30年，

only to mysteriously reappear around Earth. 文法

最後又神祕地重新出現在地球附近的。

We'll also be giving away this awesome space shuttle canvas print.

我們還將送出這幅超讚的太空梭帆布畫。

So, stick around to the end of the video to see how you could win. 片語動詞

所以，請一定要看到影片最後，看看你該如何贏取這份獎品。

The Saturn V rocket had three stages.

農神5號火箭共有三級。

The first stage burned for about 2 and 1/2 minutes and got them to an altitude of 61 km.

第一級燃燒了約2.5分鐘，將它們推升到了61公里的高空。

From there,

隨後，

the second stage would burn for around 6 minutes,

第二級會燃燒大約6分鐘，

taking them higher and faster.

帶著它們飛得更高、更快。

It was then up to the third and final stage to do a short burn and get the spacecraft into orbit. 文法

接下來就輪到第三級也是最後一級進行短暫燃燒，將太空船送入軌道。

Once it was in a stable orbit,

一旦進入穩定的軌道，

the third stage would be fired up again to perform the trans-lunar injection burn, 講解

第三級就會再次點火，執行地月轉移軌道注入燃燒，

sending the rocket and crew on a trajectory to intersect the Moon.

將火箭和乘組送入與月球交會的軌道。

Once the Apollo crew were safely on their way to the Moon,

當阿波羅乘組安全踏上登月之旅後，

the third stage would separate and NASA would try to discard it.

第三級就會分離，NASA會嘗試將其廢棄。

On previous Apollo missions,

在之前的阿波羅任務中，

they aimed to place it into an orbit around the Sun,

他們的目標是將其送入繞太陽運行的軌道，

where it would remain for thousands of years.

在那裡它可以停留數千年。

In order to get into this orbit,

為了進入這條軌道，

NASA aimed to meet the Moon on its trailing side,

NASA計畫讓它在月球的後方與月球相遇，

where the Moon's gravity would slingshot the rocket away from Earth and into a solar orbit.

利用月球的引力將火箭從地球甩向太陽軌道。

For NASA,

對NASA來說，

an orbit like this is a good investment because it means the object won't get in the way of future missions. 慣用語

這樣的軌道是一項不錯的投資，因為這意味著該物體不會妨礙未來的任務。

But things didn't quite work out for Apollo 12.

但對於阿波羅12號來說，事情並沒有那麼順利。

An investment that definitely won't get in your way is Masterworks.

一項絕對不會成為你阻礙的投資就是Masterworks。

Masterworks has been featured in financial publications like Business Insider and Financial Times and was recently awarded one of LinkedIn's top 50 startups.

Masterworks曾登上過《商業內幕》和《金融時報》等財經刊物，最近還入選了領英50大新創公司。

Because from Masterworks office in downtown Manhattan,

因為在曼哈頓市中心的Masterworks辦公室裡，

their team is opening the door to art investing. 慣用語

他們的團隊正在開啟藝術投資的大門。

Masterworks doesn't do NFTs or crypto.

Masterworks不涉足NFT或加密貨幣。

You're investing in real physical paintings,

你投資的是真實的實體畫作，

qualified with the SEC.

並且擁有美國證券交易委員會(SEC)的資質認證。

And I've linked to that sec.gov page in the description.

我已將那個sec.gov的頁面連結放在了資訊欄裡。

To date, 片語搭配

迄今為止，

Masterworks has filed over 200 paintings with the SEC,

Masterworks已向SEC備案了200多幅畫作，

ranging from $500,000 to $25 million. 文法

價值從50萬美元到2500萬美元不等。

Masterworks has paid out over $25 million in the last 12 months alone. 片語動詞

僅在過去12個月裡，Masterworks就已派發了超過2500萬美元。

That includes three sales just in the last 60 days,

其中包括過去60天內的三次出售，

which returned 10, 13, and 35% net to their investors.

分別為投資者帶來了10%、13%和35%的淨收益。

With every investment,

每一次投資

there is capital risk involved.

都伴隨著資本風險。

But with over 60,000 users and $600 million invested,

但這裡已有超過6萬名用戶和6億美元的投資，

check out the link below where you can join the Masterworks community.

點擊下方連結，加入Masterworks社群吧。

In order to get rid of Apollo 12's third stage, 片語動詞

為了處理掉阿波羅12號的第三級，

NASA had to set it on a path to meet the Moon around here. 片語搭配

NASA必須將其設定在這一帶與月球相遇的軌道上。

But the initial trajectory had it headed toward this side of the Moon.

但最初的軌道卻讓它朝向了月球的這一側。

And so,

因此，

the third stage needed to do one final maneuver to change its trajectory.

第三級需要進行最後一次機動來改變其軌道。

In order to complete this maneuver,

為了完成這次機動，

the third stage used its auxiliary propulsion systems.

第三級使用了其輔助推進系統。

These were two sets of thrusters at the bottom of the stage that provided yaw, pitch, and roll during flight. 文化背景

這是位於該級底部的兩組推進器，在飛行過程中提供偏航、俯仰和滾轉控制。

Despite having to change its position by thousands of kilometers, 文法

儘管需要改變數千公里的位置，

it actually took very little energy since changing its trajectory so early in the journey would have a big effect once it reached the Moon.

它實際上只消耗了很少的能量，因為在旅途這麼早的階段改變軌道，在到達月球時就會產生巨大的影響。

At the time of separation,

在分離時，

the third stage was traveling at around 20,000 km/h.

第三級的速度約為20,000公里/小時。

In order to change its trajectory,

為了改變軌道，

it had to slow down by about 140 km/h.

它需要減速約140公里/小時。

This would delay its approach to the Moon,

這將推遲它接近月球的時間，

making it arrive at the opposite side.

使其到達月球的另一側。

NASA completed the maneuver,

NASA完成了這次機動，

but, unknown to them,

但他們不知道的是，

it didn't to plan.

事情並沒有按計畫進行。

The entire Saturn V rocket was controlled by the instrument unit located above the third stage.

整個農神5號火箭由位於第三級上方的儀器單元控制。

This had its own internal guidance unit on board, 片語搭配

它上面有自己內部的制導單元，

which was used to plot the rocket's trajectory.

用於繪製火箭的飛行軌跡。

It also had two C-band transponders,

它還有兩個C波段應答器，

which would send signals back to ground stations on Earth,

可以將訊號發回地球的地面站，

giving NASA more accurate trajectory data.

為NASA提供更準確的軌跡數據。

Once the rocket was safely in orbit,

一旦火箭安全入軌，

NASA could compare this data with the rocket's own data and see if it was following the desired flight path.

NASA就能將這些數據與火箭自身的數據進行對比，看看它是否在按照預定的飛行路線前進。

If anything was off, 用詞

如果有任何偏差，

they could send a command up to the rocket to correct it.

他們就可以向火箭發送指令來進行修正。

What NASA didn't know was that the tracking system was out by a tiny amount,

NASA不知道的是，追蹤系統出現了一點微小的誤差，

which led them to believe the rocket was traveling faster than it really was.

導致他們以為火箭的飛行速度比實際速度快。

And so,

因此，

in order to get it to the target velocity,

為了讓它達到目標速度，

NASA ended up slowing it down too much. 片語動詞

NASA最終讓它減速過度了。

They overcorrected by just 40 km/h.

他們矯枉過正了區區40公里/小時。

But this was enough to drastically delay its arrival to the Moon,

但這足以大大推遲它到達月球的時間，

causing it to miss by thousands of kilometers. 文法

導致它偏離了數千公里。

And so,

因此，

instead of being thrown out into a solar orbit,

第三級非但沒有被甩入太陽軌道，

the third stage ended up in a highly elliptical orbit around the Earth.

反而進入了一條繞地球運行的極度橢圓軌道。

Over the next 15 months,

在接下來的15個月裡，

the orbit was constantly stretched and pulled in different directions by the Earth and Moon's gravity.

這個軌道被地球和月球的引力不斷拉扯，朝著不同的方向延伸。

It got stretched all the way out to Lagrange point 1. 講解

它一直被拉伸到了拉格朗日L1點。

This is a point between Earth and the Sun where the gravitational forces of both bodies cancel out. 片語動詞

這是地球和太陽之間的一個點，兩個天體的引力在這裡相互抵消。

Once the third stage passed beyond this point,

一旦第三級越過這個點，

the Sun started to have more of an influence.

太陽的影響就開始佔據上風。

Imagine a steep hill with a car trying to reach the top. 表達脈絡

想像一個陡峭的山坡，一輛汽車正試圖衝上山頂。

If the car doesn't have enough velocity to reach the top,

如果汽車沒有足夠的速度到達山頂，

the hill will drag it back down to the bottom.

山坡就會把它拉回到坡底。

If it has enough velocity to move past the top,

如果它有足夠的速度越過山頂，

it will start to get pulled down by the other side.

它就會開始被另一側拉下去。

This is exactly what happened to the third stage.

第三級遭遇的情況正是如此。

It passed the Lagrange point 1 hill and was now being dragged into an orbit around the Sun.

它越過了拉格朗日L1點這座山，如今正被拉入繞太陽運行的軌道。

In a way,

從某種意義上說，

it finally achieved what it was meant to achieve. 文法

它終於實現了它本該實現的目標。

But this orbit around the Sun was far from stable. 慣用語

但這條繞太陽運行的軌道遠非穩定。

Instead of being accelerated to a solar orbit on the outside of Earth, 文法

它並沒有加速進入地球外側的太陽軌道，

it had been slowed down into an orbit on the inside of Earth.

而是減速進入了地球內側的軌道。

Because of this,

正因為如此，

the third stage was now completing its lap around the Sun a little bit quicker than the Earth.

第三級現在繞太陽跑一圈的時間比地球稍快了一點。

This meant it was slowly pulling away. 片語動詞

這意味著它在慢慢拉開距離。

But it was only a matter of time before the third stage would catch back up. 講解

但第三級追趕上地球只是時間問題。

This actually happened in 1986,

這種情況其實在1986年就發生過，

but it wasn't quite close enough to the L1 point,

但當時它離L1點還不夠近，

and so it never got pulled into Earth's orbit.

所以並沒有被拉回地球軌道。

The third stage carried on racing around the Sun for another 16 years before the inevitable finally happened. 片語動詞

於是第三級繼續繞著太陽奔跑了16年，直到不可避免的事情最終發生。

In 2002,

2002年，

the third stage reached its apoapsis just as the Earth came onto the scene. 講解

第三級到達遠星點，恰逢地球也來到了這裡。

This time,

這一次，

the third stage crossed beyond Earth's L1 point,

第三級越過了地球的L1點，

and for the first time in 32 years,

這是32年來，

the Earth now had more pull on the object than the Sun.

地球對該物體的引力首次超過了太陽。

Over the course of 2 months, 片語搭配

在短短兩個月內，

Earth pulled the third stage into a highly elliptical orbit around the Earth,

地球將第三級拉回了一條繞地球運行的極度橢圓軌道，

just like the one it was in before.

就和它以前所處的那條軌道一樣。

At this point, though, 表達脈絡

但在此時，

astronomers still had no idea what this object was.

天文學家仍然不知道這個物體是什麼。

And so,

因此，

in order to confirm the identity of the object,

為了確認該物體的身份，

astronomers did spectroscopy observations to determine what it was made of. 文化背景

天文學家進行了光譜觀測，以確定其構成材料。

Every material reflects light in slightly different ways.

每種材料反射光的方式都會略有不同。

More specifically, 表達脈絡

具體來說，

the amount of light that is reflected will differ at each wavelength.

在每個波長下反射的光量都不一樣。

And so,

因此，

to determine the material of this object,

為了確定這個物體的材料，

astronomers took light measurements of the third stage at many different wavelengths,

天文學家在許多不同的波長下測量了第三級的光，

which gave them a spectroscopy graph.

從而得到了一張光譜圖。

With this,

藉此，

they could compare it to other spectroscopy graphs and see if it matched any other materials.

他們可以將它與其他光譜圖進行比對，看看是否與任何其他材料相匹配。

It turned out that it was very similar to the spectroscopy graph of white titanium oxide paint,

結果發現，它與白色氧化鈦塗料的光譜圖非常相似，

the exact kind that was used on the Saturn V.

這正是農神5號所使用的那種塗料。

Astronomers were also able to trace the object's trajectory back and found that it left Earth's orbit in 1971. 片語搭配

天文學家還能追溯該物體的運行軌跡，發現它是於1971年離開地球軌道的。

And so,

於是，

with this information,

有了這些資訊，

astronomers could confidently say that this really was the long-lost third stage from Apollo 12.

天文學家就可以自信地斷言，這真的是阿波羅12號那枚失蹤已久的第三級火箭。

Astronomers continued to track the orbit,

天文學家繼續追蹤其軌道，

and after just a year,

短短一年後，

it was once again thrown out into an orbit around the Sun.

它再次被甩出，進入了繞太陽運行的軌道。

Calculations made by astronomers showed that it will return to Earth in the mid-40s. 用詞

天文學家的計算顯示，它將在21世紀40年代中期重返地球。

This object will spend many more years racing through space,

這個物體還將在太空中繼續穿梭許多年，

but the laws of physics will always make sure it returns home every now and then. 慣用語

但物理定律始終會確保它時不時地回趟家。

And now,

而現在，

time for something really special.

到了真正的特別環節。

In the next video,

在下一期影片中，

we'll be giving away this awesome space shuttle canvas print.

我們將送出這幅超讚的太空梭帆布畫。

All you have to do is sign up at the link below and leave a comment about the thing that got you interested in spaceflight. 文法

你只需要在下方的連結註冊，並留言說說是什麼讓你對太空飛行產生了興趣即可。

We will announce the winner in next month's video.

我們將在下個月的影片中公布得獎者。

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。