听力文本

The video of the massive SpaceX rocket landing safely back on Earth was like the take-off, but in reverse. The rocket is called Falcon 9.

And the safe landing is a big deal.

It means that space travel could become a lot easier in the future.

Normally rockets deliver their payload – a satellite, for example, or supplies – and then burn up on their way back to Earth.

What the SpaceX mission proved Monday night is that a rocket may be able to safely return to Earth and be used again.

The successful landing is even more notable considering a similar rocket failed when it launched six months ago.

The way it works is that the entire rocket unit leaves Earth's atmosphere, and then the 15-story-tall rocket booster separates, flips and comes back to a landing zone six miles away.

If the rocket booster can be used again it means the cost of entering space can be significantly reduced.

For example, similar boosters cost $60 million to build, but are only used once. If SpaceX is a success, it will cost $60 million once, and then future missions will only include the cost of repairs and fuel.

The owner of SpaceX is businessman Elon Musk. He also owns the Tesla electric car company.

A company called OrbComm hired SpaceX to deploy 11 satellites. That part of the mission was a success, too.

Musk says the success of this week's launch and return is exciting, but his real goal is to send a human mission to Mars.

"This was a critical step along the way to being able to establish a city on Mars. That's what all this is about."

The rocket launch and landing took place in Cape Canaveral, Florida, a city famous for many other successful rocket launches, but none where the booster returned in one piece.

Observers say the test will have to be repeated several times to prove that it is possible to reuse space rockets.

I'm Dan Friedell.

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Oc)iN(oI9p4。

词汇解释

1.falcon n. [鸟] 猎鹰；[鸟] 隼

The first launch of Falcon 9 could change the course of human space flight.
猎鹰9号的首次发射可能会改变人类太空飞行的进程c&wJ3*T%Li。

2.payload n. （导弹、火箭等的）有效载荷，有效负荷；收费载重，酬载；（工厂、企业等）工资负担

The missile can carry a 1,000kg payload up to 1,300 miles.
这枚导弹可以承载1000千克的炸药量运行最远1300英里JJf!U!8_j.)b86Z2Dv。

3.flip vt. 掷；轻击 vi. 用指轻弹；蹦跳 adj. 无礼的；轻率的 n. 弹；筋斗

He was flipping through a magazine in the living room.
他在起居室里快速翻阅一本杂志_3aj;lG=YP。

4.booster n. 升压机；支持者；扩爆器

Ground controllers will then fire the booster, sending the satellite into its proper orbit.
届时地面控制人员将点燃助推器，把卫星送入预定轨道3GX#=I^@[%BG0。

内容解析

1.The video of the massive SpaceX rocket landing safely back on Earth was like the take-off, but in reverse.

in reverse 相反，向相反方向，倒（退），逆（行、转等）

Amis tells the story in reverse, from the moment the man dies.
埃米斯以倒叙的方式讲述了这个故事，从这个男人死去的时候开始讲起8fTOW=tkp1Gh,_Bk)x]#。

Please read the names on this list in reverse order.
请看看这张单子上的名字,先从末尾看起.

2."This was a critical step along the way to being able to establish a city on Mars. That's what all this is about."

along the way 事情正在发生或你正在做某件事的那段时间; 随着时间的推移

You may have to learn a few new skills along the way.
在这个过程中你可能还得新学几招4uqY_2R;WLBZId#。

They say there are brigands hiding along the way.
他们说沿路隐藏着土匪EH!3Prw0mrRDk*。

参考译文

视频显示Space X公司火箭的巨型火箭像发射时那样安全地着陆，只是方向相反而已，这枚火箭名叫“猎鹰9号”V4yIzscTqlAuzs!b6。

其安全着陆可谓一件大事lM9HwYr]5@g-=ozXK2Y。

这意味着未来的太空旅行会变得容易些,3q.AXkF8cy6~hh[wpJe。

一般来说火箭在运送它所搭载的卫星或供给后会在返回地球的途中烧掉[HboH7e^;ggl!3+)。

Space X公司周一晚上的发射任务表明，火箭是可以安全地返回地球并得到再次使用的9JWjDl&L^H7c3VHP~l4j。

考虑到六个月前一枚类似的火箭发射失败，这次成功的着落更为引人注目PX2hoZ)^eE]SV。

它的工作方法是，整个火箭组离开地球大气层，然后其15层高的火箭助推器分开并翻转，并回到六英里外的着陆区WM~!2g=jckg[4。

火箭助推器能重复利用，这就意味着太空之旅的成本可以大大减少rqhaCri_3iet6S&y#G#q。

比如，建造类似的助推器需耗资6000万美元，但只能用一次ymuoTc2JmP。如果Space X成功了，那么一次只需一次性花费6000万美元，未来发射时只需维修和燃料的成本2saVln.g)H。

Space X公司老板是商人伊隆·马斯克，他还是特斯拉电动汽车公司的老板J6jANt7OJVaDcuj。

一家名为OrbComm的公司雇佣Space X部署11枚火箭，这个任务也成功了v#%iHUqIKUTh%,FBP@M。

马斯克说本周发射和着陆的成功令人兴奋，但他真正的目标是将人送往火星jJXfAJ^fcQ#-Wada-p。

“这是我们能在火星上建造城市的关键一步，这才是目标|HQg9h04U52Stbh。”

火箭的发射和着陆都在佛罗里达州的卡纳维拉尔角进行，该市也进行过另外几次著名的火箭发射，但那些发射中助推器都没有回来CzH_uXgk[Q_F。

观察家称这次测试必须多做几次才能证明可以重复利用太空火箭yKiZR94rVZ。

我是丹·费利德尔SPS_3]^wni。`