AS IT IS 2016-09-14 New Rockets Announced in Private Space Race

AS IT IS 2016-09-14 New Rockets Announced in Private Space Race

Businessman Jeff Bezos has announced two new rocket designs to launch satellites and people into space.

Most people know Bezos as the founder¹ and chief executive officer of online seller Amazon. However, the rocket designs come from his private space company, Blue Origin.

The two reusable rockets are called New Glenn. The name refers to astronaut John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth, in 1962.

The New Glenn two-stage rocket stands 82 meters high and is designed to reach low-Earth orbit. A three-stage version, measuring 95 meters, is meant to travel beyond Earth’s orbit.

The first stage of both rockets will be powered by seven engines, using liquid natural gas and liquid oxygen as fuel. The new designs are based on Blue Origin’s smaller New Shepard rocket, which has successfully launched four times.

Bezos said the new rockets should be ready for flight “before the end of this decade.” They will take off from the historic Launch Complex 36 in Cape² Canaveral, Florida.

“Our vision is millions of people living and working in space, and New Glenn is a very important step,” Bezos said in an email announcing his plans.

Bezos has said Blue Origin plans to launch satellites into orbit for companies at a lower cost. It also plans to transport tourists into space. The company’s business model depends on the ability to reuse parts of the rockets over and over again.

Other private space companies are based on the same model. One of Blue Origin’s main competitors is SpaceX, owned by businessman and investor³ Elon Musk⁴. Musk also operates electric car company Tesla Motors.

So far, SpaceX has successfully launched and landed rockets six times. Two of the rockets landed on the ground and four touched down on a platform floating in the sea.

SpaceX recently planned another launch. But its Falcon⁵ 9 rocket exploded during a pre-launch test two days before liftoff on September 1. The cause of the explosion is being investigated.

The accident at Cape Canaveral destroyed the rocket and a communications satellite that was built for Facebook. The social media network planned to use the satellite to provide high-speed internet service to parts of Africa.

Bezos noted⁶ that Blue Origin places high importance on not moving too quickly with development.

“We believe slow is smooth and smooth is fast,” he said. “In the long run, deliberate and methodical wins the day, and you do things quickest by never skipping steps.”

Bezos said the company would not stop at New Glenn and hinted at plans for an even bigger rocket. “Up next on our drawing board: New Armstrong,” he said. “But that's a story for the future.”

That rocket would be named after astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first human to walk on the moon, in 1969.

Words in This Story

deliberate – adj. done intentionally⁷ or planned

methodical – adj. done with care, in an organized way

hint – v. to say or give information about something in an indirect way

1 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

2 cape   

n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风

参考例句：

• I long for a trip to the Cape of Good Hope.我渴望到好望角去旅行。
• She was wearing a cape over her dress.她在外套上披着一件披肩。

3 investor   

n.投资者，投资人

参考例句：

• My nephew is a cautious investor.我侄子是个小心谨慎的投资者。
• The investor believes that his investment will pay off handsomely soon.这个投资者相信他的投资不久会有相当大的收益。

4 musk   

n.麝香, 能发出麝香的各种各样的植物，香猫

参考例句：

• Musk is used for perfume and stimulant.麝香可以用作香料和兴奋剂。
• She scented her clothes with musk.她用麝香使衣服充满了香味。

5 falcon   

n.隼，猎鹰

参考例句：

• The falcon was twice his size with pouted feathers.鹰张开羽毛比两只鹰还大。
• The boys went hunting with their falcon.男孩子们带着猎鹰出去打猎了。

6 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

7 intentionally   

ad.故意地，有意地

参考例句：

• I didn't say it intentionally. 我是无心说的。
• The local authority ruled that he had made himself intentionally homeless and was therefore not entitled to be rehoused. 当地政府裁定他是有意居无定所，因此没有资格再获得提供住房。