9-14 用于探索太空的发明：人造卫星

Inventions for Exploring Space: Artificial Satellites

 

SputnikⅠwas the first artificial satellite. It can be described as an aluminium¹¹ sphere with a diameter² of 58 centimetres and weighing 83.6 kilograms, equipped with instruments to measure the temperature and the density² of the atmosphere. SputnikⅠwas launched into orbit around the Earth by the former Soviet³ Union on 4 October 1957. Since then, hundreds of artificial satellites have been launched, each with a different function.

 

Some artificial satellites are used for telecommunications, which enable us to make telephone calls to any part of the world, to see live television transmissions³ and to communicate via the Internet. Other artificial satellites are used for navigation⁴, so that people on Earth can know at any moment the position of an object, within a few metres. Others are weather or meteorological⁵ satellites, launched to monitor the state of the atmosphere and to follow the movement of the clouds as they gather. There are also military satellites, for the purpose of gathering⁴ in formation on the armaments and the troops in countries which may be hostile and also to indicate the launch of a missile.

 

Each satellite has its own orbit which is selected according to its purpose. Communications satellites, for example, have a geostationary⁶ orbit. That is an orbit which turns at the same speed as the rotation⁵ of the Earth. Satellites used for weather forecasting pass over the two poles of the Earth. By so doing, a different part of the Earth’s surface is viewed on each successive⁷orbit. All artificial satellites get the energy they need by huge solar panels which extend like wings. These are therefore controlled in such a way that they are always turned toward the Sun.

 

注释：

1. aluminium [7Alju:5minjEm] a. [化] 铝的，铝制的

2. diameter [dai5AmitE] n. 直径

3. transmission [trAnz5miFEn] n. 播送，发射，发送

4. navigation [7nAvi5^eiFEn] n. 领航，导航

5. meteorological [7mi:tiErE5lRdVik(E)l] a. 气象的，气象学的

6. geostationary [7dVi(:)Eu5steiFEnEri] a. 与地球旋转同步的，对地静止的

7. successive [sEk5sesiv] a. 连续的，接连的

 

用于探索太空的发明：人造卫星

 

史普尼克1号是第一颗人造卫星。它可以被描述为一个直径58厘米、重83.6公斤的铝质球体，装备着用来测量大气温度和密度的仪器。该卫星是1957年10月4日由前苏联发射至环地球轨道的。从那以后，成百颗有着各种不同功能的人造卫星被发射升空。

有些人造卫星被用于通讯，使我们可以把电话打到世界任何一个角落，收看电视直播，并通过互联网交流。有些被用于导航，这样地球上的人便可以在任何时刻都能够知道一个物体的方位，其精确度达到几米以内。有些则是天气或气象卫星，发射升空用于监测大气状况，并在云层形成后跟踪其运动轨迹。此外，还有军事卫星，用于收集可能的敌对国的军事情报，还能在有导弹发射时发出信号。

每一颗人造卫星根据其不同目的选用不同的运行轨道。比如，通讯卫星有一个对地静止轨道。这种轨道是与地球自转保持同步的。用于天气预报的卫星的轨道会通过地球的两极。这样，地球表面的每一部分在卫星连续的轨道运行中都被一览无余。所有人造卫星都靠巨大的、仿佛翅膀一样展开的太阳能电池板获得能量。因此，它们被控制成总是面向太阳。

 

1 aluminium   

n.铝 (=aluminum)

参考例句：

• Aluminium looks heavy but actually it is very light.铝看起来很重，实际上却很轻。
• If necessary, we can use aluminium instead of steel.如果必要，我们可用铝代钢。

2 density   

n.密集，密度，浓度

参考例句：

• The population density of that country is 685 per square mile.那个国家的人口密度为每平方英里685人。
• The region has a very high population density.该地区的人口密度很高。

3 Soviet   

adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃

参考例句：

• Zhukov was a marshal of the former Soviet Union.朱可夫是前苏联的一位元帅。
• Germany began to attack the Soviet Union in 1941.德国在1941年开始进攻苏联。

4 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

5 rotation   

n.旋转；循环，轮流

参考例句：

• Crop rotation helps prevent soil erosion.农作物轮作有助于防止水土流失。
• The workers in this workshop do day and night shifts in weekly rotation.这个车间的工人上白班和上夜班每周轮换一次。