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
英语标准美文85
人生哲理:多一点开心 少一点抱怨
英语美文:生命这个奇迹
英语名篇名段背诵精华20
诗歌:在清晨许个愿
诗歌:放慢你的舞步
英语美文:艰难岁月也要满怀感恩之心(双语)
英语名篇名段背诵精华27
26个英文字母蕴含的人生哲理
英语美文:一双丝袜(有声)
浪漫英文情书精选:Could This Be Real?这是真的吗?
人生哲理:年轻无悔 别停下追寻梦想的脚步
双语阅读:回家的感觉真好
浪漫英文情书精选:My Everything我的一切
英语美文:红色 Red (双语)
精选英语美文阅读:生活的涟漪
英语名篇名段背诵精华22
世界上最美丽的英文3
英语美文:越长大越孤独(双语)
英语美文:有良师乃人生之幸(双语)
浪漫英文情书精选:Don't Give Up不要放弃
浪漫英文情书精选:Keep You Forever永远温存着你
英语标准美文51
美文欣赏:海边漫步
被我们遗忘在生活中的哲理V
英语晨读:思考生活
英语晨读:金窗
英语标准美文75
英语美文:Keep on Singing
英语晨读:忘忧树
| 不限 |
| 英语教案 |
| 英语课件 |
| 英语试题 |
| 不限 |
| 不限 |
| 上册 |
| 下册 |
| 不限 |