(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
From VOA Learning English, this is the Technology Report.
In 2012, a team of pilots and engineers from Switzerland successfully flew a plane powered by sun light from Spain to Morocco. The same team flew the aircraft across the United States in 2013. Now, the Swiss team is preparing for a flight around the world in 2015. The new, improved version of the plane, named Solar Impulse 2, was recently shown in Switzerland.
Solar Impulse 2 is a very light, single-seat airplane. Its wings are 63 meters across. This large wingspan provides 200 square meters of space for energy cells that charge lithium-ion batteries. These special batteries are needed to keep the plane flying at night.
Four electric motors permit the plane to cruise at a speed of up to 140 kilometers per hour, at an average height of 8,500 meters above sea level. The longest flight of Solar Impulse 1 was made in May 2013. The plane flew from Phoenix, Arizona to Dallas, Texas, a distance of just over 1,500 kilometers.
Pilot Andre Borschberg says Solar Impulse 2 will be able to fly much longer distances between stops.
"When we leave the coast of China, we don't know what the weather looks like on the side of the ocean. So these are big question marks," said Borschberg.
12 years of research and testing went into building Solar Impulse 2. The researchers and testers believe the aircraft will be able to fly around the world in 20 to 25 days and nights.
Andre Borschberg once flew jets for the Swiss Air Force. He says every detail on the airplane is designed to save energy.
"This airplane is an example of energy efficiency, how we save the energy, and how the energy from the sun is enough to keep the airplane in the air day and night," said Borschberg.
Mr. Borschberg will be able to sleep or even exercise when using the autopilot, a flight assistance device.
Bertrand Piccard is the Chairman of the Solar Impulse project. He says the goal of the flight around world is to support energy efficiency.
"It is to bring products to their clients which are more energy efficient: in home buildings, in the transportation, in appliances, it can be lighting," Piccard said.
Solar Impulse 2 begins test flights in May. The flight around the world is planned to start next March from an airport somewhere along the Persian Gulf.
And that's the VOA Learning English Technology Report. For more technology stories go to our website learningenglish.voanews.com. I'm Jonathan Evans.
文本来自51voa，译文属可可原创，仅供学习交流使用，未经许可请勿转载
词汇解释
1.wingspan n. 翼展；翼幅
The bird has a 1-metre wingspan.
这只鸟的翼幅为1米。
2.autopilot n. [航] 自动驾驶仪（等于automatic pilot）
The aircraft engines, autopilot, and navigation system are absolutely reliable.
飞机发动机，自动驾驶仪和导航系统绝对可靠。
3.appliance n. 器具；器械；装置
He could also learn to use the vacuum cleaner, the washing machine and other household appliances.
他还能学习使用吸尘器、洗衣机和其他家用电器。
内容解析
1.When we leave the coast of China, we don't know what the weather looks like on the side of the ocean.
on the side of 拥护…；站在…一边；赞助
God is always on the side of the strongest battalions.
上帝总是帮助强者。
They ranged themselves on the side of law and order.
他们站在法治一边(他们主张维护法律与秩序)。
参考译文
这里是美国之音慢速英语科技报道。
2012年，一批来自瑞士的飞行员和工程师成功驾驶太阳能动力飞机从西班牙飞到摩洛哥，他们在2013年再次驾驶该飞机飞跃美国。现在，这个瑞士团队准备2015年进行环球飞行。这款名为阳光动力2号的改良新飞机最近在瑞士亮相。
阳光动力2号是一款很轻的单座飞机，机翼有63米长，这种大翼幅能为给锂离子电池充电的能源元件提供200平米的空间，这种特殊的电池用来让飞机夜间飞行。
4台电动机使得飞机能够在平均海拔8500米以上的空中以140公里每小时的速度飞行，阳光动力2号最长的一次飞行是2013年5月，飞机从亚利桑那州菲尼克斯市飞到德州达拉斯市，航程超过1500千米。
飞行员安德烈·博尔施伯格说，阳光动力2号能够在机场之间飞行更长距离。
“当我们从中国海岸离开时，并不知道大洋的另一端天气如何，所以这就是个大问题。”
阳光动力2号耗费了12年的研究和测试，研究者和测试者认为这架飞机能够环绕世界飞行20到25个日夜。
安德烈·博尔施伯格曾在瑞士空军开过飞机，他说飞机上的每个细节都是为了节能。
“这款飞机是能效的一个实例，如何节能，如何让飞机从太阳获取的能量足以使飞机日夜飞行。”
博尔施伯格将能在使用自动驾驶仪时睡觉甚至锻炼身体，自动驾驶仪是一种飞行辅助装置。
伯特兰·皮卡德是阳光动力项目的主席，他说环球飞行的目标是支持能效。
“我们的目标是给客户带来更高能效的产品，无论是家庭建筑、交通还是电器方面，还能用于照明。”
阳光动力2号5月份开始测试飞行，环球飞行计划于明年3月份开始，起飞地点是沿波斯湾的某个机场。
这就是美国之音慢速英语科技报道，登陆learningenglish.voanews.com获得更多科技报道，我是乔纳森·伊万斯。
