听力文本

If you've ever thought to yourself, "I'd like to design a rocket someday," now's your chance.

如果你曾经想过，“某天我想设计一枚火箭”，现在你的机会来了Zx&HTE^lXuTyLOB]R3。

The United Launch Alliance now has a website that lets customers design their own rocket.

联合发射联盟现在有一个网站，让客户设计自己的火箭*];dX&^n5l。

You can choose a launch date, type of rocket, orbit and several other customizations.

你可以选择发射日期，火箭的类型、轨道以及一些其它定制36MrgN3DBF*yj@^。

well that might sound like fun-and-games, the interactive site is actually meant to drum up more commercial business for ULA.

嗯，听起来像是娱乐和游戏，这个互动网站实际上是为了给ULA招徕更多的商业c!_.s~D.v5jCSd(po;LY。

The U.S. government is already a big fan of ULA's Atlas rockets, but the company is on a mission to branch into the commercial side of things, just like Elon Musk's SpaceX venture.

美国政府非常亲睐ULA的火箭，但公司现在的任务是进行商业化，就像Elon Musk的SpaceX风险项目F;Hxo+(]38C0c)。

SpaceX is ULA's main competitor, and it already has a hold on a lot of the commercial market.

SpaceX是ULA的主要竞争对手，它已经掌握了很多的商业市场~ubmC(_hcS2d.G。

Both companies tout the affordability of their products. But Atlas rocket prices start at $109 million, while SpaceX's main launcher the Falcon 9 is estimated to hover around $61 million.

两家公司都吹捧自己产品的能力09whZN6=|b(C.X7Iz&gM。但阿特拉斯火箭起价为1亿900万美元，而SpaceX的主要发射器猎鹰9号估计在6,100万美元左右Gc8FS9rGb&Fx%aFbmtz。

So ULA's rockets might come with a heftier price tag, but the company says that's because they're more reliable. SpaceX had a rocket explode back in September. Atlas rockets haven't failed in over two decades.

所以，ULA的火箭可能会有更高的标价mR9zT%DZ-wOX[。但该公司表示，这是因为他们的火箭更可靠Ng[UDT5lI=。SpaceX的一枚火箭在九月爆炸了fPP-+C9uyaJ]YZvg@,。阿特拉斯火箭几十年来没有失败过h+~Klla)rk[C1Xw2uP。

And, hey, for that money, at least you can have some fun choosing what you want.

而且，有这些钱，至少你可以有乐趣的选择你想要的Tn)Z3Qw|!J*IRBfyl。

译文属可可原创，仅供学习交流使用，未经许可请勿转载t,h(A_0rHQ。

词汇解析

1、launch

发射（火箭、导弹或卫星）

NASA plans to launch a satellite to study cosmic rays.

美国国家航空航天局计划发射一颗卫星上天，对宇宙射线进行研究QH8=SsfAxE。

A Delta II rocket was launched from Cape Canaveral early this morning.

今天一早，一枚“德尔塔”Ⅱ型火箭在卡纳维拉尔角发射升空~VVac#C.tob~。

开展（重大活动）；发起，发动（军事袭击等）

Heavy fighting has been going on after the guerrillas had launched their offensive.

游击队发起攻击后，激烈的战斗一直持续不断~OGAu6ju0^Ag_^Wl1_。

The police have launched an investigation into the incident.

警方已对该事件展开调查NacR&YIut@ym。

（在江河、湖泊和港口载人的）大型汽艇

The captain was on the deck of the launch, steadying the boat for the pilot.

船长站在汽艇甲板上为领航员保向FVbxCB8Ex*+9h;。

We'll make a trip by launch to White Island.

我们将乘汽艇到怀特岛]FQb|0O1f5s4a9Vo。

2、branch

（企业或组织的）分支机构，分部，分店

The local branch of Bank of America is handling the accounts.

美国银行在当地的分行正在处理这些账目@%Xu@Cb)Ab。

National is Britain's leading autocare service with over 400 branches nationwide.

英国轮胎与车辆养护公司是英国最有名的汽车养护企业，在全英国有400多家分店ZL9cPm)W_Wid。

(政府或公安机关等的）部门，机构

Senate employees could take their employment grievances to another branch of government.

参议院的雇员可以向别的政府部门申诉工作问题#;,;P9SsPf@9nIs*。

He had a fascination for submarines and joined this branch of the service.

他对潜艇非常着迷，因此加入了潜艇部队rMQZeYS-=g_YV9。

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