英语听力：自然百科 行星旅行指南：火星 Mars—19

 So in some ways, a voyage to Mars could be a voyage home. Our ancestors have made such bold trips before when we walked out of Africa, when we sailed over the horizon. If it is technically¹ possible, our ships will head out again. 

 

We always want to see what is over the next hill, and Mars is that next over the hill。Sure, you are going to have to be in a suit, you are going to have to have a habitat, but it’s a solid planet, it’s(=it has) got a surface, you can see, you can work, you can explore. 

 

I suffer about 30 years and now that we could go to Mars, and usually when people ask me how long it will take, I say 15 years because we have been saying 15 years for the last about 4 decades. 

 

Our human mission to Mars can happen soon enough for me. I’m, You know I am, I am a robot guy. Ok, that is what I do in my career, / build robots and send them to Mars. But I also think that we send things to Mars for reasons other than science. Our rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, were built by people who like me, grew up in the 60s, watching Mercury Gemini Apollo on TV as little kids are dreaming of sending spaceship to Mars some day and now we do. And I think as people watch the first human explore on surface of Mars, they are going to be similarly inspired to do things that I can’t imagine at this point. It is going to be very costly², it is going to be dangerous, but I think it is something I like to see happen. I ‘d love to see footprints in our real tracks, I would love to see footprints on Mars. 

 

When the first human footprint is made on Mars, it will represent more than a giant stride into space. This one small impression will be proof that humanity is once again on the move. Travelers once more moving beyond our comfort zone to explore new lands and new opportunities, and have no doubt there are many world out there, ride for exploration.

1 technically   

adv.专门地，技术上地

参考例句：

• Technically it is the most advanced equipment ever.从技术上说，这是最先进的设备。
• The tomato is technically a fruit,although it is eaten as a vegetable.严格地说，西红柿是一种水果，尽管它是当作蔬菜吃的。

2 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。