Will We Take Vacation in Spaces?
When Mike Kelly first set out to build his own private space-ferry service, he figured his bread-and-butter business would be lofting satellites into high-Earth orbit. Now he thinks he may have figured wrong. People were always asking me when they could go, says Kelly, who runs Kelly Space Technology out of San Bernardino, California. I realized that real market is in space tourism.
According to preliminary market surveys, there are 10,000 would-be space tourists willing to spend $1 million each to visit the final frontier. Space Adventure in Arlington, Virginia, has taken more than 130 deposits for a two-hour, $98,000 space tour tentatively set to occur by 2005. Gene Meyers of the Space Island Group says: Space is the next exotic vacation spot.
This may all sound great, but there are a few hurdles. Putting a simple satellite into orbit with no oxygen, life support or return trip necessary already costs an astronomical $22,000/kg. And that doesnt include the cost of insuring rich and possibly litigious passenger. John Pike of the Federation of American Scientists acerbically suggests that the entire group of entrepreneurs trying to corner the space-tourism market have between them just enough money to blow up one rocket. The U.S. space agency has plenty of money but zero interest in making space less expensive for the little guys. So the little guys are racing to do what the government has failed to do: design a reusable launch system thats inexpensive, safe and reliable. Kelly Spaces prototype looks like a plane that has sprouted rocket engines. Rotary Rocket in Redwood City, California, has a booster with rotors make a helicopter-style return to Earth; Kistler Aerospace in Kirkland, Washington, is piecing together its versions from old Soviet engines, shuttle-style thermal protection tiles and an elaborate parachute system. The first passenger countdowns are still years away, but bureaucrats at the Federal Aviation Administration in Washington are already informally discussing flight regulations. After all, you cant be too prepared for a trip to that galaxy far, far away.
For those who are intent on joining the 100-mile high club, Hilton and Budget are plotting to build space hotels. Before the Russian space Mir came down, some people were talking about using it as a low-rent space motel to reduce the cost. If a space hotel is finally built in space, and if youre thinking of staying in it, you may want to check the Michelin ratings before booking yourself a suite.
16. Mike Kelly planned to turn his business of making bread and butter into a business that is engaged in space tourism.
A)True B)False C)Not mentioned
17. Kelly hoped to develop space tourism, which he thought would be a good market.
A)True B)False C)Not mentioned
18. Space Adventure in Arlington has taken 130 deposits totaling $98,000 for a two hour space tour.
A)True B)False C)Not mentioned
19. It sounds great that soon there will be space residence, although it is still a tentative plan.
A)True B)False C)Not mentioned
20. Some of the hurdles space tourism faces include a lack of oxygen and life support equipment.
A)True B)False C)Not mentioned
21. Little guys, who do not have plenty of money but have great interest in space tourism, are trying to make the space travel less expensive but more reliable.
A)True B)False C)Not mentioned
22. We can infer from the context that the Michelin ratings can help people to find prices of hotels.
A)True B)False C)Not mentioned
「正确答案」 1622 B A B C B A A
雅思听力单项选择题的解答方法
雅思听力考前应对策略
雅思听力高频词汇:常用短语30个
雅思听力高频词汇35个
雅思听力不同备考阶段的复习策略
雅思听力真题解题技巧:干扰项
雅思听力高频考点整理
雅思听力提高需要避免的10个点
雅思听力词汇的备考方法介绍
剑四真题例解雅思听力关系词的应用
雅思听力核心必备词汇60个
短期提高雅思听力:精听和泛听相结合
雅思听力备考重点知识介绍
雅思听力选择题的练习策略
雅思听力速度提高技巧:关键信息点
雅思听力题型训练方法:结合套题
雅思听力完成句子题型的解题方法
突破雅思听力语音三部曲:音标、单词和技巧
例解雅思听力单选题的答题技巧
短期提高雅思听力:把握关键信息
提高雅思听力 需要突破语音部分
雅思听力考试的6大题型
雅思听力常见场景解析:工作
横向解析雅思听力考点
雅思听力:交通类型堵车题话题介绍
雅思听力经典场景解析:租房
雅思听力高分技巧分享(24条)
雅思口语话题范文:TV program
雅思听力图形题解题方法整理
雅思听力Section 1的答题技巧
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |