美国轨道周年 US orbit anniversary

Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I’m Jackie and today I’m joined by Kaz. Hello Kaz!
大家好，欢迎来到BBC学习英语的6分钟英语节目。我是杰基，今天和我一起的是卡兹。你好卡兹！
Hello Jackie!
你好杰基！
Today we’ll be talking about the American John Glenn.
今天我们将要讨论的是美国的约翰·格伦。
Yes, John Glenn is a former astronaut – someone who goes into space.
是的，约翰·格伦是一名前宇航员，就是进入太空的人。
That’s right, he’s a former astronaut – he used to be an astronaut and he wasalso the first American to orbit the Earth.
对的，他曾是一名宇航员，他也是第一个环绕地球的第一位美国人。
To orbit the Earth – that means to go round the Earth in space.
环绕地球意味着在太空里绕地球飞行。
Before we continue Kaz, let’s not forget this week’s tricky question! Can you tell me what NASA – N-A-S-A stands for?Is it a) National Aeronautics and Space Administration?b) North American Space Agency?c) National American Space Aeronautics?
在我们开始之前，别忘了这周的棘手问题！你能告诉我NASA代表着什么吗？它是a)国家航空和宇宙航行局？b）北美航天局？c)国家美国太空航空？
Tricky one there, Jackie. The first one, I think, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, but NASA… Hang on, there is no A there. So I’m going to go for North American Space Agency. See how we get on with that.
很棘手的一个问题，杰基。我认为是第一个，国家航空和宇宙航行局，但是NASA...等会，那里没有A。所以我选择北美航天局。看看我们如何处理它。
OK, we’ll find out whether it was a good idea to change your answer or not atthe end of the programme.
好的，我们将在节目的结尾来看看你改变答案是不是一个好主意。
So John Glenn was the first American to orbit Earth, so that must’ve beenwhat – about fifty years ago?
因此约翰格伦是第一个环绕地球的美国人，但那也已经是五十年前的事。
That’s right – exactly 50 years ago, in fact, in February 1962, which is whyNASA is honouring him. Let’s listen to a report on John Glenn. As you listen, try to answer this question:
对啊，真的是五十年前了，事实上是在1962年的二月份，那就是NASA为何表彰他了。让我们来听听关于约翰格伦的报道。当我们听的时候，尝试回答这个问题。
How many times did John Glenn go round the Earth in 1962?
在1962年约翰·格伦绕地球多少次？
Reporting from Washington, here’s Steve Kingstone.
这是史蒂夫金士顿，来自华盛顿的报道。
It was, of course, the Soviet Union that put the first man into orbit. But when John Glenn circled the Earth three times in five hours in February 1962, it marked America’s return to the space race - paving the way for Neil Armstrong’s moon landing seven years later.
当然，是苏联把第一个人送入太空。但是当约翰格伦在1962年二月环绕了地球三次的时候，它标志着美国太空竞赛的回归-为七年之后的尼尔阿姆斯特朗的登月做铺垫。
The answer to the question was: he orbited the Earth three times. As we heard in the report, it was, of course the Soviet Union that put the first maninto orbit.
问题的答案是：他环绕了地球三次。正如我们在报道中所说，当然是苏联把第一个人类送入太空。
But when John Glenn circled the Earth, it marked – it showed - America’sreturn to the space race.
但是当约翰格伦环绕了地球三次的时候，它标志着美国太空竞赛的回归。
The space race – the big competition between the Soviet Union and theUnited States for supremacy in space – to dominate and take control of space.
太空竞赛是苏联和美国之间争夺支配与控制太空霸主地位的巨大的竞争。
Steve Kingstone said this paved the way – it prepared the path - for NeilArmstrong’s landing on the moon seven years later.
斯蒂夫金士顿说这为七年之后尼尔阿姆斯特朗的登月铺展了道路。
So this was a very important event for the United States – not only a sign oftheir return to the space race, but also an event that paved the way for NeilArmstrong’s landing on the moon. It was a pioneering voyage.
所以对美国来讲这是一个很重要的事件，不仅是回归太空竞赛的标志，也是为尼尔阿姆斯特朗登月的铺垫。它是个首创的航行。
A pioneering voyage – a journey that explored new areas and opened up newpossibilities.
一个先驱航行，一个探索新的领域和打开无限可能的旅行。
The anniversary of this event was celebrated in a special way. Let’s listen to the rest of Steve Kingstone’s report to find out how it was celebrated.
这起事件的周年纪念以一种特别的方式来庆祝。让我们来听听斯蒂夫金士顿的报道的剩余部分来看看它是怎么庆祝的。
On the fiftieth anniversary of that pioneering voyage, NASA had a surprise for Mr Glenn, now a sprightly ninety years old.
在这个先驱航行的五十年周年庆上，NASA给了愉快的九十岁格伦先生一个惊喜。
"We’ve got you loud and clear, welcome aboard the International Space Station."
“我们十分敬重了解您，欢迎来到国际空间站。”
He was greeted in a live video call by today’s astronauts, orbiting the Earth. And the VIP guest was clearly impressed by the communications.
今天环绕地球的轨道的宇航员以一个现场录像电话的形式向他祝福。这个VIP的贵宾被这次通信深深打动。
I just was sitting here thinking a minute ago about how technology has gone aheadso rapidly in the space age because here we are watching high-definition television here and you guys are coming through perfectly, so you have constant communication around here.It’s just amazing that we can sit here and talk to you back and forth.
一分钟前我只是坐在这儿思考在太空时代科技是如何迅猛发展的，因为我们在这里观看高清电视，在这你们是如此完美的成功，所以在这里不断的交流。我们坐在这里和你反复交谈真的很令人吃惊。
John Glenn joked that he’d like to return to space - something he last achieved fourteen years ago, in his late seventies. This anniversary event was in part an effort to publicise NASA’s achievements at a time when its budget is under threat
约翰格伦开玩笑说他将要返回太空-这是在十四年前他七十岁时最后一次进入太空。这个周年纪念活动，一部分是为了预算不足而宣传美国宇航局取得的成就的努力。
The anniversary was marked by a live video call to the International SpaceStation with the astronauts of today.
周年庆活动是今天的宇航员从国际空间站发回的视频直播电话。
And John Glenn was very impressed – he thought it was great that he couldtalk live to the astronauts, something that technology could not achieve in1962.
约翰格伦非常感动他认为他能够和宇航员现场交谈是非常棒的，这是1962年科技所不能达到的。
So this video call was a way of honouring John Glenn and celebrating theanniversary of the orbit, but aside from this, the report touched on anotherreason why NASA might have chosen to mark the occasion.
所以这个视频电话是敬仰约翰格伦和庆祝轨道周年庆的一种方式，但是除去这一点，报道提及了NASA选择来纪念这个日子的另一个原因。
Yes, Steve Kingstone mentioned that the event was partly an effort topublicise – to make known – NASA’s achievements. Why would they do that?Well because their budget is under threat: they are worried they might notget as much money as they need to do their work.
是的，斯蒂文金士顿提到这件事一定程度上在努力宣传，来使NASA的成就人尽皆知。他们为什么这么做呢？因为他们的预算受到威胁：他们担心没有所需要的足够的钱来进行工作。
Well, John Glenn seems eager to achieve more things. He joked that he’d like to return to space.
好的，约翰格伦似乎想要取得更多的成就。他开玩笑说他想要重返太空。
He’s only 90 years old after all – why not pop up to space for a quick visit if he wants to?
他毕竟有90岁了，如果他想要的话，为什么不进行一次太空快速旅行呢？
Yes, why not! After all, the last time he went he was in his seventies – that made him the oldest man ever in space! Steve described John Glenn as sprightly’, which means lively and full of energy. Did you ever have dreams of being an astronaut Kaz?
是啊，为什么不呢！毕竟他最近一次上太空是在七十多岁的时候，这使得他成为进入太空的最老的人。斯蒂文用sprightly描述约翰格伦，它的意思是生动，充满能量。你曾经的梦想成为一名宇航员吗，卡兹？
Funnily enough, that’s exactly what I wanted to be.
说来真怪，那真的是我一直的梦想。
Really? But it never happened?
真的？但是它永远不会发生。
It never happened.. But it might, you know, I am still a spring chicken
它不可能发生。但是，你知道，我仍然是一个年轻人。
Let’s have a reminder of some of the words we’ve talked about:astronautpioneeringto go into orbitthe space raceto pave the wayto publicisesprightly
让我们来回忆一下我们所谈到的一些单词：宇航员先驱的进入轨道太空竞赛铺设道路宣传活泼的
Now, the answer to the question: what does NASA, N-A-S-A stand for? You said North American Space Agency, and you shouldn’t have changed youranswer because you had it right the first time. It’s actually the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
现在揭晓问题NASA代表了什么的答案。你说是北美航天局，你不应该改变你的答案，因为你第一次已经答对了。它真的是国家航空和宇宙航行局。
Ah, wrong again.
啊，又答错了。
Yeah, it’s a bit of a mouthful anyway that one. That’s all for now, but do join us again soon for more 6 Minute English! Bye!
是的,这是有点拗口，但无论如何是这个。这就是今天的全部内容，请您继续关注6分钟英语栏目！拜拜！
Bye bye!
拜拜！