Watch Rocket Scientists Create Unusual Designs on Pumpkins(翻译)

Each year, engineers at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) use pumpkins to create interesting things related to space.JPL is part of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the American space agency.The engineers are responsible for organizing robotic space missions and earth science experiments.The laboratory is part of Caltech, the California Institute of Technology.
每年万圣节的时候，喷气推进实验室（JPL）的工程师们都会用南瓜做出一些与太空有关的有趣东西。喷气推进实验室隶属于美国的空间研究机构——美国国家航空航天管理局。工程师们负责组织机器人参与的太空任务和地球科学实验。这个实验室同样隶属于加州理工学院。

Pumpkins are very popular at this time of year, especially in the United States. The large, orange fruit is a sign of the fall harvest, and countless Halloween observances.
每年这个时候的南瓜都很受欢迎，尤其是在美国。这种大大的橙色果实是秋天丰收的象征，也是数不清的万圣节庆祝惯例。

At JPL, the engineers take part in a competition to see who can come up with the best-looking pumpkin.The event is held around Halloween, when Americans turn pumpkins into funny or frightening creations.Naturally, the pumpkin projects show off the engineers’ great scientific and technical abilities.But they also demonstrate their creativity, humor and love of the planets.After choosing a favorite pumpkin, groups of engineers are given just one hour to create anything they want.Since pumpkins are often round, they are perfect for representing planets.
喷气推进实验室的工程师们组织了一场评选“最好看南瓜”的比赛。比赛是在万圣节那天举行的。在万圣节那天，美国人会把南瓜做成有趣或者吓人的样子。这些南瓜物件自然展现了工程师们的高超科学技术水平。但是他们也展示了自己的创造力、幽默感以及对各个星球的热爱。选好自己心仪的南瓜之后，各组工程师只有一小时的时间来做出想要做的东西。因为南瓜通常是圆的，特别适合代表各种星球。

Many of this year’s pumpkins had themes related to Mars, since the Red Planet has been in the news so much recently.Some included “sample” materials from Mars.One even had an image of what is supposed to be a Martian.Another pumpkin featured a model of the Juno space probe orbiting the planet Jupiter.There was also a space carousel, as well as a pumpkin made to look like Ms. Pac-Man from the video arcade game.One project showed a giant meteor on fire, flying toward pumpkin heads of two famous Americans.They are presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.
今年很多南瓜作品的主题都是火星，因为最近有关这颗红色星球的新闻实在是太多了。有的南瓜作品包含了火星上材料的“样本”。甚至还有一个作品被认为是“火星人”的形象。还有的南瓜作品是环绕木星的“朱诺号”太空探测器的模型。其中还有一个也是用南瓜做的太空传送带，看起来很像街机游戏里的“吃豆人”。还有一个作品展示的是一颗着火的巨大陨石飞向两个特别著名的美国人。总统侯选人唐纳德·特朗普和希拉里·克林顿。

To see images of these and other pictures posted by JPL, go to our website learningenglish.VOAnews.com.I’m Anne Ball.
更多喷气推进实验室南瓜作品的图片和视频，请登陆“美国之声”慢速英语网站查看。安妮·贝尔为您报道。