BBC环球慢速英语 第345期:星尘号宇宙飞船(3)

voice 2: Scientists make aerogel by mixing together four different chemicals. The chemicals react together and form a wet, soft substance. Then scientists put the substance under a lot of heat and pressure. The final result is a very dry, very fine, soft material, like a sponge. It is blue. And it is very light. That is because aerogel is over ninety-nine percent porous - ninety-nine percent just holes!
声音2：科学家将四种化学物质混合，制成了气凝胶。四种化学物质互相发生反应，然后形成了一种又湿又软的物质。随后，科学家让这种物质接触大量热量和压力。最终得到了一种非常干燥、纤细又柔软的材料，就像海绵一样。这种材料呈蓝色。重量非常轻。这是因为孔洞在气凝胶中的占比超过99%，气凝胶中有99%都是孔洞！

voice 1: The fact that aerogel is so porous is very important. In fact, it is the reason why NASA chose to use this material for the Stardust project. You see, aerogel can capture materials in its centre.
声音1：气凝胶的孔洞率极高这点非常重要。事实上，这就是美国航空航天局选择这种材料进行星尘号项目的原因。因为气凝胶可以捕获位于其中心的材料。

voice 2: The purpose of the Stardust was to explore a comet. A comet is a small object that circles the sun. Stardust was the first NASA project designed to return materials from outside of the moon's orbit.
声音2：星尘号的任务是探索彗星。彗星是太阳周围的一种小物体。星尘号是美国航空航天局启动的首个从月球轨道之外收集样品并带回地球的项目。