But what consumers really want is technology,

但消费者真正感兴趣的是科技

the latest home appliances,

最新的家用电器

the latest entertainment technology.

最新的娱乐技术

There are barely 2 million VCRs in 1980.

1980年时只有200万台录像机

Over 63 million by 1990.

到了1990年 却达到6300多万台

From a few thousand cell phones,

从最初只有区区几千部手机

by the end of the decade there are over 5 million.

到80年代末 发展到超过500万部

Your first pocket knife,your first bicycle,your first car,

你的第一把折叠刀 你的第一辆自行车 你的第一辆汽车

today, you know, your first cell phone,your first laptop,

如今 你的第一部手机 你的第一台手提电脑

all these are badges of gaining control over your world,

这些都标志着你掌控了自己的世界

of having, being able to live life better

标志着你有能力生活得更好

because you have a better tool, and the skill to use it.

因为你有更先进的工具和使用它们的技术

That's something that's deeply appealing to the American psyche.

这让美国人深深地为之心驰神往

But many of these consumer technology advances are developed directly from the biggest spending spree of all:

不过 许多消费品的技术进步都直接得益于有史以来最大的开支狂潮:

the Space Race.

太空竞赛

The Cold War with the Soviet Union is still going strong.

与苏联的冷战状态仍然处在白热化阶段

Laying out across the globe and the final frontier.

紧张态势蔓延全球 乃至太空

By the end of the Cold War, 7 trillion dollars has been spent keeping America ahead of her communist rival.

到冷战结束时 美国共花费了七万亿美元只为了领先于它的共产主义对手

The result,one of the most sophisticated and daring spacecraft ever built:

竞争的结果就是 造就了史上最复杂最大胆的航天器:

The space shuttle.

航天飞机

The space shuttle was a beautiful idea.

航天飞机真是个非常美妙的想法

It was an elegant craft,that would be more efficient, more economical

非常精致的飞船更高效 更经济

because it could take off and land and be reuseable.

因为它可以像飞机那样起飞着陆并重复使用

and lift off.

发射

The shuttle adds to America's consumer boom.

航天飞机助长了美国的消费热潮

One of its primary functions is to launch communication satellites,

它最重要的功能之一是搭载通信卫星

helping expand America's ever growing appetite

用来助涨美国人日益滋长的

for entertainment, communications, telephones and GPS.

对娱乐 通信 电话和全球定位系统的需求

And the technology that goes into the shuttle also comes back to earth.

而航天飞机上使用的技术也造福了地面上的人类

Cell phones, water purification,airplane landing gear, fire fighting equipment.

手机 水质净化 飞机起落架 消防设备

Cordless power tools, medical tech,and even ski wear.

无线电动工具 医疗技术 甚至滑雪服

All benefited from the shuttle program.

这一切都得益于航天飞机计划

For many, the shuttle is symbolic of the American story.

许多人看来 航天飞机是美国的象征