Transforming Mars
改造火星
Read about the ultimate travel experience in this article from a scientific journal.
读这篇摘自科学杂刊上有关最终旅行经历的文章。
Ever since the beginning of history, people have dreamt of interplanetary travel.
人类有史以来一直梦想着星际旅行。
For centuries, these dreams have always remained dreams.
数世纪以来,这些梦想一直还只是梦想。
However, scientists now want to make these dreams come true.
然而,现在科学家们想使这些梦想成为现实。
They are planning to transform Mars so that humans can live there.
他们计划改造火星,那样人类就能在那里生活。
Within 30 years, the first people will land on Mars and, by the year 2185, we will have established cities.
在三十年内,第一批人类将登上火星,到2185年,我们将在那里建成多个城市。
In many ways, Mars is the planet most similar to Earth.
在很多方面,火星是与地球非常相似的一颗行星。
A Martian day lasts about 24 1/2 hours (although a year has 687 days).
火星上的一天大约有24个半小时(虽然一年有687天)。
While there is no water, there is a lot of ice in the two polar ice caps.
虽然没有水,但是两极冰冠里有很多冰。
The average temperature is -60℃.
平均气温是零下60摄氏度。
The plan involves changing Mars so that it becomes more like Earth.
该计划是改造火星,从而使它更像地球。
This means using the 'greenhouse effect' (which we are trying to stop on Earth).
这意味着利用温室效应(我们正努力在地球遏制温室效应)。
The suggested programme would have five main stages.
这个被提出的项目包括五个主要阶段。
Stage 1 (AD 2030-2045)
第一阶段(公元2030年-2045年)
The first expedition arrives on Mars, after a journey by spacecraft of about six months.
经过6个月的太空飞行之后,太空船登陆火星进行第一次探险。
The members construct underground buildings, conduct experiments, look for good sites for future landings, and also check for signs of life.
宇航员建造地下建筑物,进行实验,寻找未来适合的着陆点,并探询生命的踪迹。
They can survive only as long as they wear spacesuits, because 95 percent of the atmosphere is carbon dioxide.
他们只有穿着太空服才能生存,因为百分之九十五的空气是二氧化碳。
Nonetheless, the low gravity (one-third of Earth's) means they can move around easily.
但是,重力小(相当于地球的三分之一)意味着他们可以轻易地到处走动。