VOA慢速英语2020 美国宇航局选中诺基亚在月球建造首个移动网络

Nokia says it has been chosen by the American space agency NASA to build the first mobile phone network on the moon.

诺基亚公司表示，它已被美国宇航局选中在月球上建造首个手机网络。

The Finnish technology company recently announced that its Nokia Bell Labs division will build the lunar communications system. It said NASA will put the equipment on a lunar lander. The spacecraft is expected to reach the moon's surface in late 2022.

这家芬兰科技公司最近宣布，其诺基亚贝尔实验室将会打造月球通信系统。该公司表示，美国宇航局将会把这些设备放到月球着陆器上。预计该航天器将于2022年末抵达月球表面。

Nokia's announcement comes as the space agency continues preparations for sending astronauts to the moon by 2024. NASA's Artemis program aims to establish a long-term human presence on the moon as a "warm-up" for future missions to the planet Mars.

诺基亚公司宣布这一消息之际，美国宇航局正在继续为2024年将宇航员送上月球做准备。美国宇航局阿尔忒弥斯计划的目的是在月球上建立长期的人类存在，以作为未来火星任务的热身。

Earlier this month, NASA announced it had awarded $370 million to 14 companies to provide technology for the moon-landing program. The money will support studies of cryogenic fluid management and technologies related to energy storage and power production on the moon's surface.

本月初，美国宇航局宣布已经向14家公司提供3.7亿美元为登月计划提供技术。这笔资金将用于支持低温流体管理技术以及在月球表明储能和发电相关技术的研究。

The space agency also signed a deal for the development and testing of improved lunar landing systems. And it is seeking private companies to mine rocks and other resources on the moon.

美国宇航局还签订了一项开发和测试改进型月球着陆系统的协议。它还在寻求通过私人公司在月球上开采岩石和其它资源。

The Nokia agreement was included in NASA's latest awards to private companies. The space agency said it is paying the company $14.1 million to build the mobile network.

这份跟诺基亚签订的协议包含在美国宇航局最近向私营企业提供的融资当中。美国宇航局称其将向该公司支付1410万美元用于打造移动网络。

Nokia said its network will provide critical communications for work astronauts will need to perform on the moon. This will include remote control of lunar vehicles and other equipment, real-time navigation activities and high-quality video streaming.

诺基亚公司表示，其网络将为宇航员在月球上执行必要任务提供关键的通信服务。这其中将会包括登月车和其它设备的远程控制，实时导航活动以及高质量的视频流。

The equipment includes a base station, antennas¹ and computer software programs. All the equipment will be designed to survive difficult launches, lunar landings and extreme conditions in space.

该设备包括基站、天线以及计算机软件程序。所有设备都将设计成为能够承受充满艰难的发射、登月过程，以及太空中的极端条件。

Nokia said the equipment is designed to configure, or set up, the 4G/LTE communications network on its own. Marcus Weldon is Nokia's chief technology officer. Weldon said he sees the 4G/LTE system as a necessity to support "a sustainable human presence on the lunar surface."

诺基亚表示，该设备旨在自行配置4G/LTE通信网络。马库斯·韦尔登是诺基亚公司的首席技术官。韦尔登表示，他认为4G/LTE系统是支持人类在月球表面可持续存在的必要条件。

The company decided² to use 4G instead of 5G, the latest mobile technology, because 4G has been available longer and proven its reliability³.

该公司决定使用4G代替最新的5G移动技术，因为4G的面世时间更长，并且证明了其可靠性。

Nokia said its long-term goal is to move the moon network to 5G technology in the future.

诺基亚公司表示，其长远目标是将月球网络转换到5G技术。

1 antennas   

[生] 触角，触须（antenna的复数形式）

参考例句：

• Marconi tied several antennas to kites. 马可尼在风筝上系了几根天线。 来自超越目标英语 第3册
• Radio astronomy today is armed with the largest antennas in the world. 射电天文学拥有世界上最大的天线。

2 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

3 reliability   

n.可靠性，确实性

参考例句：

• We mustn't presume too much upon the reliability of such sources.我们不应过分指望这类消息来源的可靠性。
• I can assure you of the reliability of the information.我向你保证这消息可靠。