2008年2月18日星期一晴
美国将击落失效的间谍卫星
U.S. to shoot down defunct spy satellite
The Pentagon said Thursday it plans to shoot down a defunct spy satellite expected to hit the Earth in early March,
(美国国防部五角大楼星期四宣称,计划将击落已失效的间谍卫星,预计该卫星有可能在3月初撞击地球。)
An option on the table is to use a sea-based missile to do the job, before the satellite falls into the Earth's atmosphere, Pentagon officials told reporters.
(国防部官员对记者说,经讨论选用海军基地导弹,在卫星落入地球大气层之前完成这项工作。)
Last month, Gordon Johndroe, spokesman for the National Security Council said a defunct U.S. spy satellite is falling from orbit and could hit the Earth in late February or March.
(上月份,全国安全理事会发言人说,一颗已死亡的美国间谍卫星正从轨道滑落,可能在2月下旬或3月撞击地球。)
The satellite, which has lost power and propulsion, could contain hazardous materials, he said.
(他说,失去了的能量和推动力的卫星,可能包含危险物质。)
Because the satellite could not be controlled any longer, it is unknown where the Earth it might hit.
(因为这颗卫星已不可能再予控制了。也不知道它将在何处撞击地球。)
In 1979, Skylab, a 78-ton abandoned NASA space station fell from orbit in an uncontrolled manner.
(1979年,美国国家航空和宇宙航行局抛弃的78吨太空实验室失控后滑出轨道。)
Its debris eventually dropped into the Indian Ocean and across a remote section of western Australia harmlessly.
(最后其残骸坠落印度洋并无害地越过西澳大利亚遥远地区。)

