乘气球遨游太空

山东庆云县第一中学 邢冬霞

难词探意

1.biosphere/'baɪəʊsfɪə(r)/n.生物圈

2.ascent/ə'sent/n.上升

3.descent/dɪ'sent/n.下降

Travelling into space is something that many people dream of,but until now has only been a reality for a few lucky astronauts.Now,a space company has shown plans to offer tourists trips into space on board giant balloons—although for a high cost.Space Perspective will offer flights on board its Spaceship Neptune spacecraft,with un-crewed test flights scheduled in early 2021.

Jane Poynter,founderand co-CEO of Space Perspective,said,“We decide to change the way people have access to space—both to perform much-needed research to benefit life on Earth and to affect how we view and connect with our planet.Today,it is more decisive than ever to see Earth as a planet,a spaceship for all humanity and our global biosphere.”

Spaceship Neptune features a huge balloon measuring the length of a football stadium,with a pressurised capsule to hold the tourists.The spacecraft will take up to eight passengers on a six-hour journey to the edge of space and back.This includes a two-hour ascent to 100,000 ft above Earth,a two-hour cruise,and a two-hour descent,before splashing down into the ocean.A ship would then pick up the passengers,capsule and the balloon.

Taber MacCallum,co-CEO of Space Perspective,said,“Following the return of human spaceflight from US soil just a few weeks ago,people have never been more excited about space travel.Few efforts are more meaningful than enabling people to experience the inspiring perspective of our home planet in space for the betterment of all,and that's what we are accomplishing with Space Perspective.”While the trips sound pretty appealing,they'll come at a high price.Speaking to Live Science,the firm explained that a ticket will likely sell for around$125,000.With un-crewed trips scheduled for early 2021,we won't have to wait long to see the air balloons in action!

Reading Check

1.What do we know about Space Perspective?

A.It's a name of a spacecraft.

B.It's a name of a company.

C.It's a name of a big balloon.

D.It's a name of a space scientist.

2.According to Jane Poynter,why do people travel to space?

A.To change our global biosphere.

B.To enjoy the beauty of space.

C.To do necessary research.

D.To build more huge balloons.

3.Where will the passengers be picked up?

A．In the ocean.

B．In Space Perspective.

C．In the space station.

D．In a football stadium.

4.What can be inferred from the last paragraph?

A.Taber MacCallum designed Spaceship Neptune spacecraft.

B.Trips into space will come true in early 2021.

C.Making people experience the trip is meaningless.

D.Not everyone can afford such a space trip.

Language Study

Difficult sentence

We decide to change the way people have access to space—both to perform much-needed research to benefit life on Earth and to affect how we view and connect with our planet.

【翻译】___________________________________________________

【点石成金】本句为一个主从复合句，people have access to space是一个限制性定语从句，前面省略了引导词that，修饰先行词the way，后面的两个动词不定式短语作目的状语。