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Experts Urge NASA to Reconsider Using Astronauts to Repair H

时间:2005-05-24 16:00来源:互联网 提供网友:chirie   字体: [ ]
    (单词翻译:双击或拖选)

 

By David McAlary
 
A panel of scientists and engineers appointed by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences urges NASA to refurbish the observatory1 one final time, predicting that compelling scientific returns will result.

NASA had scheduled a space shuttle mission for 2006 to replace Hubble's weakening batteries and stabilizing2 gyroscopes and add two new instruments to expand its discovery capability3 10 to 30 times.

But space agency chief Sean O'Keefe canceled the flight after the loss of the orbiter Columbia and its seven crewmembers last year, saying it would entail4 risks NASA is not willing to take. He said that when shuttles return to flight after safety modifications5 sometime next year, they would fly only to complete international space station construction.

A strong public outcry forced him to reconsider his decision, but he has committed only to the possibility of a robotic repair mission to the Hubble.

However, the National Academy of Sciences panel says NASA should not forego the astronaut option as it pursues the robot plan.

The panel's chairman is Louis Lanzerotti, a consultant6 with Lucent Technologies.

"The uncertain current status of the shuttle return to flight as well as uncertainties7 in the early stages in the development of a robotic mission lead us to believe that the key technical decision points are at least a year in the future and that keeping both options open would be a prudent8 direction for the agency to take," Mr. Lanzerotti said.

The chairman of a congressional committee that oversees9 NASA said he endorses10 the panel's referral.

NASA has conducted a strong campaign not to dispatch a shuttle to the Hubble Telescope. It cites the experts to investigate the Columbia accident as saying shuttles face more risk if they fly anywhere other than to the space station. This is partly because astronauts would not have the safe haven11 the station can provide if a shuttle were to have potentially dangerous technical problems in orbit.

NASA's Sean O'Keefe told the National Academy of Sciences panel recently that if a shuttle were in trouble at the telescope, launching another shuttle to rescue the crew would be very risky12.

"The consequences of getting it wrong on a shuttle servicing mission to which you are at the worst scenario13 and have to effect this mid-orbit transfer that we've never tried before, I think I'd rather be in a position of trying a robotic autonomous14 rendezvous15 and docking capacity that we've never tried before rather than a human transfer between two orbiters that we've never tried before on the unlikely event that that were to happen," he noted16.

But the National Academy of Sciences experts remind Mr. O'Keefe that he also testified that eliminating risk in space is impossible. In addition, they point out that the Columbia accident investigators17 found it acceptable to take fewer risk reducing steps to shuttle destinations other than the space station simply because there are fewer measures that can be taken.

David McAlary, VOA News, Washington.

注释:
U.S. National Academy of Sciences 美国国家科学院
NASA(National Aeronautics and Space Administration)美国国家航空和宇航局
gyroscope 回转仪
modification 改造
forego 领先……
astronaut 宇航员
pursue 继续
consultant 顾问
prudent 谨慎的
dispatch 派遣
scenario 预料
investigator 调查人


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 observatory hRgzP     
n.天文台,气象台,瞭望台,观测台
参考例句:
  • Guy's house was close to the observatory.盖伊的房子离天文台很近。
  • Officials from Greenwich Observatory have the clock checked twice a day.格林威治天文台的职员们每天对大钟检查两次。
2 stabilizing 37789793f41246ac9b11622dadb461ab     
n.稳定化处理[退火]v.(使)稳定, (使)稳固( stabilize的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • The disulfide bridges might then be viewed primarily as stabilizing components. 二硫桥可以被看作是初级的稳定因素。 来自辞典例句
  • These stabilizing design changes are usually not desirable for steady-state operation. 这些增加稳定性的设计改变通常不太符合稳态工作的要求。 来自辞典例句
3 capability JsGzZ     
n.能力;才能;(pl)可发展的能力或特性等
参考例句:
  • She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
  • Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。
4 entail ujdzO     
vt.使承担,使成为必要,需要
参考例句:
  • Such a decision would entail a huge political risk.这样的决定势必带来巨大的政治风险。
  • This job would entail your learning how to use a computer.这工作将需要你学会怎样用计算机。
5 modifications aab0760046b3cea52940f1668245e65d     
n.缓和( modification的名词复数 );限制;更改;改变
参考例句:
  • The engine was pulled apart for modifications and then reassembled. 发动机被拆开改型,然后再组装起来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The original plan had undergone fairly extensive modifications. 原计划已经作了相当大的修改。 来自《简明英汉词典》
6 consultant 2v0zp3     
n.顾问;会诊医师,专科医生
参考例句:
  • He is a consultant on law affairs to the mayor.他是市长的一个法律顾问。
  • Originally,Gar had agreed to come up as a consultant.原来,加尔只答应来充当我们的顾问。
7 uncertainties 40ee42d4a978cba8d720415c7afff06a     
无把握( uncertainty的名词复数 ); 不确定; 变化不定; 无把握、不确定的事物
参考例句:
  • One of the uncertainties of military duty is that you never know when you might suddenly get posted away. 任军职不稳定的因素之一是你永远不知道什么时候会突然被派往它处。
  • Uncertainties affecting peace and development are on the rise. 影响和平与发展的不确定因素在增加。 来自汉英非文学 - 十六大报告
8 prudent M0Yzg     
adj.谨慎的,有远见的,精打细算的
参考例句:
  • A prudent traveller never disparages his own country.聪明的旅行者从不贬低自己的国家。
  • You must school yourself to be modest and prudent.你要学会谦虚谨慎。
9 oversees 4607550c43b2b83434e5e72ac137def4     
v.监督,监视( oversee的第三人称单数 )
参考例句:
  • She oversees both the research and the manufacturing departments. 她既监督研究部门又监督生产部门。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The Department of Education oversees the federal programs dealing with education. 教育部监管处理教育的联邦程序。 来自互联网
10 endorses c3e60c44ba7aa93f0218a4cb8797284f     
v.赞同( endorse的第三人称单数 );在(尤指支票的)背面签字;在(文件的)背面写评论;在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品
参考例句:
  • There isn't one country in the Middle East that now endorses the Eisenhower Doctrine. 但至今没有一个中东国家认可它。 来自辞典例句
  • Whether any of this truly endorses Dr Patel's hypothesis is moot. 这些视频能否真正证明帕特的假设成立还是个未知数。 来自互联网
11 haven 8dhzp     
n.安全的地方,避难所,庇护所
参考例句:
  • It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后,这真是一个安乐窝。
  • The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。
12 risky IXVxe     
adj.有风险的,冒险的
参考例句:
  • It may be risky but we will chance it anyhow.这可能有危险,但我们无论如何要冒一冒险。
  • He is well aware how risky this investment is.他心里对这项投资的风险十分清楚。
13 scenario lZoxm     
n.剧本,脚本;概要
参考例句:
  • But the birth scenario is not completely accurate.然而分娩脚本并非完全准确的。
  • This is a totally different scenario.这是完全不同的剧本。
14 autonomous DPyyv     
adj.自治的;独立的
参考例句:
  • They proudly declared themselves part of a new autonomous province.他们自豪地宣布成为新自治省的一部分。
  • This is a matter that comes within the jurisdiction of the autonomous region.这件事是属于自治区权限以内的事务。
15 rendezvous XBfzj     
n.约会,约会地点,汇合点;vi.汇合,集合;vt.使汇合,使在汇合地点相遇
参考例句:
  • She made the rendezvous with only minutes to spare.她还差几分钟时才来赴约。
  • I have a rendezvous with Peter at a restaurant on the harbour.我和彼得在海港的一个餐馆有个约会。
16 noted 5n4zXc     
adj.著名的,知名的
参考例句:
  • The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
  • Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。
17 investigators e970f9140785518a87fc81641b7c89f7     
n.调查者,审查者( investigator的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
  • The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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