VOA标准英语2010年-Australian Company Develops Junk-Track

This handout¹ illustration image created by Australia's Electro Optic Systems (EOS) aerospace² company shows a view of the Earth from geostationary height depicting³ swarms⁴ of space debris⁵ in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), 20 Jul 2010

Australian researchers say they have developed a laser tracking system that will stop chunks⁷ of space debris colliding with spacecraft and satellites in the Earth's orbit.   The team at Electro Optic Systems, a company based in Canberra, claims their technology will help reduce the dangers posed by fast-moving pieces of man-made space junk that are hurtling at speeds over 35,000 kilometers per hour.

 

An estimated 500,000 pieces of debris litter the Earth's orbit as a result of man's exploration of space.  Some satellites have been hit by fast-moving pieces of junk. 

The remains⁸ of old rockets can be the size of a bus, while other fragments are simply tiny flecks⁹ of paint.

An Australian company, Electro Optic Systems, has received a $3.5 million government grant to develop the world's first automated¹⁰, high-precision, laser tracking technology.  It would replace existing radar¹¹ networks that currently monitor that part of space.

The goal is to track small objects with great accuracy.

Dr. Craig Smith, the chief executive of Electro Optic Systems, says laser beams fired from the ground could protect astronauts and satellites by targeting space junk that travels at potentially devastating¹² speeds.

"They are all hurtling around in space at 36,000 kilometers per hour and so even a 1mm piece of space junk can destroy or damage a satellite because it all comes from either dead satellites, satellites which have broken up, satellites which had fuel left in them and exploded," noted¹³ Smith.  "It is really pollution from our own use of space.  Over the last 50 years we have been a bit careless, just as we have been careless with our oceans and rivers over centuries and polluted them.  Now we have done it to space as well and created our own problem because all this stuff is man-made."   

The laser tracking system would work by giving space craft and satellites, which are able to be maneuvered¹⁴, time to move out of the way of an incoming chunk⁶ of debris.

The Australian government said the technology was part of the country's "proud history" in space science and research.

The Canberra-based team says it has received interest from around the world.  Its ultimate aim is to build a series of laser tracking stations in various countries to provide a defensive¹⁵ shield for activity in space.

They warn that the amount of junk in Earth's orbit is increasing and, as it does, the risks to satellites and space vehicles, also rise.

The project is part of an international consortium.  Other members of the consortium include the Australian National University and other institutions in Germany and the United States.
 

1 handout   

n.散发的文字材料；救济品

参考例句：

• I read the handout carefully.我仔细看了这份分发的资料。
• His job was distributing handout at the street-corner.他的工作是在街头发传单。

2 aerospace   

adj.航空的，宇宙航行的

参考例句：

• The world's entire aerospace industry is feeling the chill winds of recession.全世界的航空航天工业都感受到了经济衰退的寒意。
• Edward Murphy was an aerospace engineer for the US Army.爱德华·墨菲是一名美军的航宇工程师。

3 depicting   

描绘，描画( depict的现在分词 )； 描述

参考例句：

• a painting depicting the Virgin and Child 一幅描绘童贞马利亚和圣子耶稣的画
• The movie depicting the battles and bloodshed is bound to strike home. 这部描写战斗和流血牺牲的影片一定会取得预期效果。

4 swarms   

蜂群，一大群( swarm的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They came to town in swarms. 他们蜂拥来到城里。
• On June the first there were swarms of children playing in the park. 6月1日那一天，这个公园里有一群群的孩子玩耍。

5 debris   

n.瓦砾堆，废墟，碎片

参考例句：

• After the bombing there was a lot of debris everywhere.轰炸之后到处瓦砾成堆。
• Bacteria sticks to food debris in the teeth,causing decay.细菌附着在牙缝中的食物残渣上，导致蛀牙。

6 chunk   

n.厚片，大块，相当大的部分（数量）

参考例句：

• They had to be careful of floating chunks of ice.他们必须当心大块浮冰。
• The company owns a chunk of farmland near Gatwick Airport.该公司拥有盖特威克机场周边的大片农田。

7 chunks   

厚厚的一块( chunk的名词复数 )； （某物）相当大的数量或部分

参考例句：

• a tin of pineapple chunks 一罐菠萝块
• Those chunks of meat are rather large—could you chop them up a bIt'smaller? 这些肉块相当大，还能再切小一点吗？

8 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

9 flecks   

n.斑点，小点( fleck的名词复数 )；癍

参考例句：

• His hair was dark, with flecks of grey. 他的黑发间有缕缕银丝。
• I got a few flecks of paint on the window when I was painting the frames. 我在漆窗框时，在窗户上洒了几点油漆。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 automated   

a.自动化的

参考例句：

• The entire manufacturing process has been automated. 整个生产过程已自动化。
• Automated Highway System (AHS) is recently regarded as one subsystem of Intelligent Transport System (ITS). 近年来自动公路系统(Automated Highway System,AHS)，作为智能运输系统的子系统之一越来越受到重视。

11 radar   

n.雷达，无线电探测器

参考例句：

• They are following the flight of an aircraft by radar.他们正在用雷达追踪一架飞机的飞行。
• Enemy ships were detected on the radar.敌舰的影像已显现在雷达上。

12 devastating   

adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的

参考例句：

• It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。
• Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。

13 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

14 maneuvered   

v.移动，用策略( maneuver的过去式和过去分词 )；操纵

参考例句：

• I maneuvered my way among the tables to the back corner of the place. 我在那些桌子间穿行，来到那地方后面的角落。 来自辞典例句
• The admiral maneuvered his ships in the battle plan. 舰队司令按作战计划进行舰队演习。 来自辞典例句

15 defensive   

adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的

参考例句：

• Their questions about the money put her on the defensive.他们问到钱的问题，使她警觉起来。
• The Government hastily organized defensive measures against the raids.政府急忙布置了防卫措施抵御空袭。