VOA常速英语2018--NASA或可实现送商业宇航员进入太空

Ladies and gentlemen: I present to you our Commercial Crew astronauts. The announcement was made at the Johnson Space Center in Houston Texas by NASA Administrator¹, Jim Birdenstine.

女士们、先生们：下面向大家介绍我们的商业航天员。这是美国宇航局局长吉姆(Jim Birdenstine)在得克萨斯州休斯顿的约翰逊宇航中心所做的宣布。

For the first time since 2011, we are on the brink² of launching American astronauts on American Rockets from American soil. Nine astronauts are assigned to the four Commercial Crew flights aboard the Boeing Starliner in the SpaceX crew Dragon spacecraft. NASA has worked closely with the companies in the design, development and testing to ensure the systems meet the agency’s safety and performance requirements.

自2011年开始，我们终于快要达到用美国火箭将美国宇航员从美国土地发射升空的水平了。9名宇航员接到执行4次商业航天飞行的任务，他们要乘坐太空探索技术公司机组的波音星际飞机。美国宇航局已与多个公司进行了紧密合作，涉及设计、研发、测试，目的是为了确保所有系统都能满足美国宇航局对安全和性能的要求。

Marine³ Corps⁴ test pilot Nicole Aunapu Mann says she’s thrilled to join the Boeing team for the Starliners test flight. To be involved in the tests and development and then to be there on launch day, and to experience the results of all that hard work, it’s going to be a proud moment for the team. It’s gonna be a proud moment for America.

海军陆战队试飞员尼科尔(Nicole Aunapu Mann)表示自己很激动能参加波音工作组进行星际飞机的飞行测试。我可以参与到各种测试和研发中，发射当天自己也会在场，而且还能体验所有艰辛工作的成果，那一刻对于整个工作组而言都是自豪的一刻，对于美国而言也是自豪的一刻。

Victor Glover, a Navy Commander and naval⁵ aviator⁶ will fly SpaceX crew dragons first operational mission to the International Space Station. That will be his first spaceflight. To have the opportunity work with these great companies on something that is so important to our nation and to NASA, this is a test pilot dream and I’m just excited like Josh said to get to work making it a reality.

维克托(Victor Glover)是海军司令兼海军飞行员，他将驾驶太空探索技术公司载人龙机组进行首次任务，目的地是国际空间站。这是他第一次进行太空飞行。我将有机会与这些伟大的公司合作，做对美国以及美国宇航局意义如此重大的事情， 这是所有测试飞行员的梦想。就像乔希说的那样，我很兴奋能见证这一切成真。

NASA says the public-private partnerships⁷ fostered by the Commercial Crew program will boost the U.S. commercial space industry and spark continued innovations for the future.

美国宇航局表示，这种由商业航天员项目促进的公私伙伴关系将加速美国商业航天业的发展，并激发未来创造力的持续发展。

1 administrator   

n.经营管理者，行政官员

参考例句：

• The role of administrator absorbed much of Ben's energy.行政职务耗掉本很多精力。
• He has proved himself capable as administrator.他表现出管理才能。

2 brink   

n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿

参考例句：

• The tree grew on the brink of the cliff.那棵树生长在峭壁的边缘。
• The two countries were poised on the brink of war.这两个国家处于交战的边缘。

3 marine   

adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵

参考例句：

• Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

4 corps   

n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组

参考例句：

• The medical corps were cited for bravery in combat.医疗队由于在战场上的英勇表现而受嘉奖。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

5 naval   

adj.海军的，军舰的，船的

参考例句：

• He took part in a great naval battle.他参加了一次大海战。
• The harbour is an important naval base.该港是一个重要的海军基地。

6 aviator   

n.飞行家，飞行员

参考例句：

• The young aviator bragged of his exploits in the sky.那名年轻的飞行员吹嘘他在空中飞行的英勇事迹。
• Hundreds of admirers besieged the famous aviator.数百名爱慕者围困那个著名飞行员。

7 partnerships   

n.伙伴关系( partnership的名词复数 )；合伙人身份；合作关系

参考例句：

• Partnerships suffer another major disadvantage: decision-making is shared. 合伙企业的另一主要缺点是决定要由大家来作。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
• It involved selling off limited partnerships. 它涉及到售出有限的合伙权。 来自辞典例句