名人励志英语演讲 第48期:我们选择登月(9)

 　　That budget now stands at $5,400 million a year—a staggering sum, though somewhat less than we pay for cigarettes and cigars every year. Space expenditures¹ will soon rise some more, from 40 cents per person per week to more than 50 cents a week for every man,woman and child in the United States, for we have given this program a high national priority—even though I realize that this is in some measure an act of faith and vision, for we do not now know what benefits await us.But if I were to say, my fellow citizens, that we shall send to the moon, 240,000 miles away from the control station in Houston, a giant rocket more than 300 feet tall, the length of this football field, made of new metal alloys², some of which have not yet been invented, capable of standing³ heat and stresses several times more than have ever been experienced, fitted together with a precision better than the finest watch, carrying all the equipment needed for propulsion, guidance, control, communications, food and survival, on an untried mission, to an unknown celestial⁴ body, and then return it safely to earth, re-entering the atmosphere at speeds of over 25,000 miles per hour, causing heat about half that of the temperature of the sun—almost as hot as it is here today—and do all this, and do it right, and do it first before this decade is out—then we must be bold.

　　预算现在保持在每年54亿美元——尽管这比我们在香烟和雪茄上的消费额稍微少一点，但还是一个令人吃惊的数目。航天支出...航天支出很快就会从平均每人每周40美分上升至50美分的程度，因为我们赋予了这个计划很高的国家优先权——即使我认识，目前这个目标从某种程度上来说还停留在信念与想象之间，我们并不知道会获得多大收益。但是我想说，我的同胞们，让我们向那个距离休斯顿控制中心24万英里的月球发射火箭，一枚超过300英尺高，与这个橄榄球场长度相当的火箭，这枚火箭采用新型合金材料，其耐热与抗压性比现在使用的材料强好几倍，只是个别部分还是个“未知数”；其装配的精密程度可以与最精确的手表相媲美；它运载着用于推进、导航、控制、通讯、食品和救生的各种设备，肩负着一个前所未有的使命，登上那个未知的天体，然后安全返回地球，以超过25,000英里的时速重返大气层，由此产生的高温大约是太阳温度的一半——就像今天这里一样热——我们要把这些目标全部实现，要顺利实现这个目标，要在这个十年内领先完成——那么我们必须勇往直前。

1 expenditures   

n.花费( expenditure的名词复数 )；使用；（尤指金钱的）支出额；（精力、时间、材料等的）耗费

参考例句：

• We have overspent.We'll have to let up our expenditures next month. 我们已经超支了，下个月一定得节约开支。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The pension includes an allowance of fifty pounds for traffic expenditures. 年金中包括50镑交通费补贴。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 alloys   

n.合金( alloy的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This is essentially a development of thoria dispersion strengthened nickel alloys. 这基本上是用二氧化钍弥散强度化的镍基合金。 来自辞典例句
• The lack of deep hardening in these alloys negates their use. 这些合金缺乏深层硬化能力使它们无法利用。 来自辞典例句

3 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

4 celestial   

adj.天体的；天上的

参考例句：

• The rosy light yet beamed like a celestial dawn.玫瑰色的红光依然象天上的朝霞一样绚丽。
• Gravity governs the motions of celestial bodies.万有引力控制着天体的运动。