《中英對照讀新聞》The 100-year Starship project that plans to transport humans beyond the solar system 百年星艦計畫擬載人到太陽系之外

《中英對照讀新聞》The 100-year Starship project that plans to transport humans beyond the solar system 百年星艦計畫擬載人到太陽系之外

2012-12-01

◎陳成良

The 100-year Starship project that plans to transport humans beyond the solar system

百年星艦計畫擬載人到太陽系之外

A dramatic plan to transport humans beyond the solar system within 100 years today received the backing of former President Bill Clinton.

一項引人注目的計畫今天獲得了（美國）前總統柯林頓的支持，那就是在100年內載人到太陽系之外。

The 100-year Starship project, which was set up with US military seed funding, plans to develop huge ’starships’ to send humans far into space.

這項百年星艦計畫是用美軍的種子基金創立的，將開發大型「星艦」，把人類送往太空深處。

It has already received large amounts of funding, and former President Bill Clinton has even stepped in to serve as the symposium’s Honorary Chair.

該計畫已得到大批資金資助，前總統柯林頓甚至還出馬擔任研討會的名譽主席。

In a statement, Clinton said：’This important effort helps advance the knowledge and technologies required to explore space, all while generating the necessary tools that enhance our quality of life on earth.’

柯林頓在聲明中說：「這項重要的努力有助增進探索太空的知識和技術，還能讓我們生產出提高地球上人們生活品質的必需工具。」

The astronuat who became the first black woman in space in 1992 has been chosen to skipper the ’100 Year Starship’ project. Mae Jemison will lead the project to explore what it would take for a multigenerational mission beyond the solar system.

在1992年進入太空的首位黑人女太空人已被選為「百年星艦」計畫的領隊。梅．傑米森將帶領這個計畫，探索一項太陽系之外、需要數代人的任務。

’The 100 Year Starship will make the capability of human travel beyond our solar system to another star a reality over the next 100 years,’ she said.

「在未來100年內，百年星艦計畫會讓人類衝出太陽系，飛往其他星球的夢想成真」，她說。

新聞辭典

seed funding：種子基金，專門投資於創業企業研究與發展階段的投資基金。

symposium：名詞，研討會； 座談會。複數形態為symposia。例句：I have attended a large number of symposia and conferences on the business of stockbroking.（我參加了不少以股票買賣為專題的研討會和會議。）

skipper：動詞，擔任船長、球隊隊長等；帶領。例句：He skippered his team to victory.（他帶領全隊一路贏得了勝利。）