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
雅思听力最关键的考查点是什么?
雅思听力快速提分的魔鬼训练法
100个雅思听力常用词汇整理
雅思听力考试的灵魂:同义置换
帮助雅思听力快速提分的100词
雅思听力场景解析:动物场景
雅思听力数字考点解析(下)
雅思听力数字考点解析
雅思听力场景解析:租房场景
提高雅思听力及纠正发音的方法
雅思听力中的国籍词汇总结
雅思听力的问题和阶段介绍
雅思听力场景解析:银行交易
雅思听力场景词汇:计算机房场景
雅思听力场景解析:看病场景
雅思听力高频词汇:看病场景
雅思听力考试的特点和学习方法
雅思听力场景解析:生活咨询
听力习惯决定雅思听力分数
雅思听力考试的实用技巧(1)
雅思听力数字考点解析(上)
雅思听力场景词汇集锦
雅思听力场景词汇:停车场景
雅思听力经典小词整理(2)
实力与技巧结合 突破雅思听力
雅思听力第四部分的应试技巧
雅思听力新生报到场景难点解析
雅思听力训练的问题和方法介绍
雅思听力备考要点:充实的词汇量
雅思听力备考资料的使用技巧大全
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |