VOA标准英语2012--Dwindling US Space Budget Worries Scientist

Dwindling¹ US Space Budget Worries Scientist

It's a trend that troubles astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, an outspoken² advocate for space research and exploration. The director of the American Museum of Natural History’s Rose Center for Earth and Space in New York, he’s written a dozen books on the topic, including his latest: "Space Chronicles: Facing the Ultimate Frontier."

Tyson grew up during the 1960s and 70s, an era of optimism for space exploration which led to the moon landing and the space shuttle program. It was also an era of generous federal funding for NASA.

But Tyson believes that era is over. The Obama Administration recently proposed deep cuts in the 2013 budget for the U.S. space agency, almost a year after it shut down the 30-year-old space shuttle program.

“Right now, the United States has no vehicle of its own to take our astronauts into orbit," he says. "We have to hitch³ a ride with the Russians. If you hitched⁴ a ride it implies you got on for free. But we are riding with the Russians because we are paying for those seats. It’s a little embarrassing, I think.” 

Tyson wants to see NASA’s budget dramatically increased, saying the nation can't afford not to make space a national funding priority.

“Because it’s just that kind of adventure that stokes the health of our economy and in the 21st century scientific and technological⁵ innovation will define who leads the century and who does not," he says. "What we have found in the golden era of space exploration in America that even though space was driven by war, the consequence of that was a complete shift in the outlook that the entire country had about what was possible for our future…. And the people who bring tomorrow into today are the scientists and technologists.” 

That can be seen, Tyson says, in the multitude of devices that once seemed like science fiction but are now commonplace. Miniature electronics. Laser eye surgery. Even cordless power tools.

But for Tyson, the most valuable spinoff of a beefed-up space program is the inspiration it can provide to young people to become the innovators and visionaries of the future.

“There is a quote, I forget who said it, that if you want to teach someone to sail, you don’t train them to build a boat. You compel them to long for the open seas," he says. "And it’s the longing⁶ that triggers a level of innovation because it is through love and the romance of that goal that stimulates⁷ your creative thinking.”

It will take “a shift in the mindset,” says Tyson, to spark a true renaissance⁸ in space science - one that could revitalize both the U.S. economy and the national spirit.

1 dwindling   

adj.逐渐减少的v.逐渐变少或变小( dwindle的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The number of wild animals on the earth is dwindling. 地球上野生动物的数量正日渐减少。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He is struggling to come to terms with his dwindling authority. 他正努力适应自己权力被削弱这一局面。 来自辞典例句

2 outspoken   

adj.直言无讳的，坦率的，坦白无隐的

参考例句：

• He was outspoken in his criticism.他在批评中直言不讳。
• She is an outspoken critic of the school system in this city.她是这座城市里学校制度的坦率的批评者。

3 hitch   

v.免费搭(车旅行)；系住；急提；n.故障；急拉

参考例句：

• They had an eighty-mile journey and decided to hitch hike.他们要走80英里的路程，最后决定搭便车。
• All the candidates are able to answer the questions without any hitch.所有报考者都能对答如流。

4 hitched   

（免费）搭乘他人之车( hitch的过去式和过去分词 )； 搭便车； 攀上； 跃上

参考例句：

• They hitched a ride in a truck. 他们搭乘了一辆路过的货车。
• We hitched a ride in a truck yesterday. 我们昨天顺便搭乘了一辆卡车。

5 technological   

adj.技术的；工艺的

参考例句：

• A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.一家成功的公司必须得跟上技术变革的步伐。
• Today,the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements.当今， 随着科技进步，生活节奏不断增快。

6 longing   

n.（for）渴望

参考例句：

• Hearing the tune again sent waves of longing through her.再次听到那首曲子使她胸中充满了渴望。
• His heart burned with longing for revenge.他心中燃烧着急欲复仇的怒火。

7 stimulates   

v.刺激( stimulate的第三人称单数 )；激励；使兴奋；起兴奋作用，起刺激作用，起促进作用

参考例句：

• Exercise stimulates the body. 运动促进身体健康。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Alcohol stimulates the action of the heart. 酒刺激心脏的活动。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

8 renaissance   

n.复活，复兴，文艺复兴

参考例句：

• The Renaissance was an epoch of unparalleled cultural achievement.文艺复兴是一个文化上取得空前成就的时代。
• The theme of the conference is renaissance Europe.大会的主题是文艺复兴时期的欧洲。