一、听力练习
1.
A. To transport astronauts to the International Space Station.
B. To test the booster’s landing capabilities and gather data for future missions.
C. To send a crewed spacecraft to Mars.
D. To carry cargo to the Indian Ocean.
2.
A. The Starship reached an altitude of 100 kilometers.
B. The booster landed on the ocean surface.
C. The booster was "caught" by a metal structure upon landing.
D. The second stage of the rocket returned to Earth on its own.
3.
A. To send astronauts to Mars in 2026.
B. To establish a permanent base around the moon.
C. To end the ISS program.
D. To rely exclusively on Boeing rockets for lunar missions.
二、听力文本
SpaceX has successfully completed a fifth test of its Starship rocket system. The uncrewed test was carried out Sunday at the American space company's launch center in Boca Chica, Texas. During the flight, the 121-meter-tall Starship was successfully pushed into space by a SpaceX Super Heavy booster rocket. After reaching a height, or altitude, of about 70 kilometers, the booster separated from Starship's second stage, or top half, as planned. The reuseable booster was then directed by ground controllers to return to the launch center. Before touching down on the landing pad, the rocket re-lit three of its 33 Raptor engines in order to slow the booster for a controlled landing. The Super Heavy then positioned itself to land. For the first time, the booster was "caught“ and secured in place by a huge structure that includes large metal arms. Video of the landing provided by SpaceX showed the booster rocket being captured by the structure exactly as planned. A short time later, Starship's second stage safely spashed down in the Indian Ocean. The test flight and successful landings demonstrated progress for SpaceX's Starship system. The American space agency NASA is planning to use Starship to carry the next U.S. astronauts to the moon. Such a landing would be the first since NASA's Apollo 17 mission in 1972. The next planned moon landing – which NASA officials have set for September 2026 – is part of NASA's Artemis program. Artemis will also seek to establish a permanent base around the moon to support ongoing lunar visits and possible future trips to Mars. SpaceX was chosen to lead NASA's planned moon landing after numerous successful demonstrations and missions in recent years. The company's rockets and spacecraft have been dependably transporting astronauts and materials to the International Space Station (ISS) since 2020. NASA also chose American aerospace company Boeing to serve as a possible partner in its Artemis program. But the company's Starliner rocket has faced major delays and difficulties during past test flights. In the last one, Starliner successfully transported two American astronauts – Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams – to the ISS in early June. The two were expected to stay in space for only a week. But ongoing technical issues with the Starliner spacecraft prevented a return trip. NASA recently decided to have Starliner return to Earth without the astronauts. The plan is for Wilmore and Williams to return home from the ISS in February on a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. Before SpaceX's latest mission, several Starship rockets exploded during the test flights. The last non-exploding test happened in June. During that flight, SpaceX reported some damage to heat-resisting tiles on the outside of Starship. But improvements made since then appeared to have succeeded. After Sunday's flight, SpaceX chief Elon Musk said the rockets appeared to be generally in good condition, with just minor warping of some outer engine parts from intense heat. He noted that those parts could be fixed easily.
Question 1: What is the main purpose of SpaceX's recent test of its Starship rocket system?
Question 2: Which feature was demonstrated successfully for the first time during this test flight?
Question 3: What is one of NASA's future plans for the Artemis program?
三、重点词汇
1. altitude: height above sea level 海拔，海拔高度
四、背景知识
北京时间13日晚间，美国太空探索技术公司（SpaceX）发射了星舰火箭的第五次测试飞行，并首次成功捕捉到超过20层楼高的助推器。 这一成就标志着SpaceX朝着让星舰成为完全可重复使用的火箭系统迈出了重要的一步。 这枚有史以来最大的、性能最强的火箭于纽约时间上午8:25发射升空。在将星舰送入太空后，超级重型助推器返回地球的发射地点，并在着陆时减速。发射塔上的两只机械臂伸出并“抓住”了降落的助推器，当时任务控制中心爆发出欢呼声和掌声。 本次试飞最大的看点是SpaceX助推器在发射塔Mechazilla尝试着陆，俗称用“筷子夹火箭”。SpaceX将使用巨大发射架上被称为“筷子”的结构，在半空中夹住返回地球的超大型火箭。 这次的成功是火箭技术上的重大突破，将显著提高火箭的可重复使用性和降低发射成本。 SpaceX工程师Jessie Anderson在直播中说道：“我到现在还觉得难以置信，就像筷子捕捉到了助推器一样。” 在发射后回收星舰的助推器是SpaceX为火箭商业运营做准备的一个重要里程碑。该火箭是SpaceX首席执行官埃隆·马斯克将人类送上月球和火星梦想的核心部分。但在载人和货物发射前，它还有很长的路要走。 马斯克长期以来宣称这款火箭将会实现完全可重复使用。SpaceX以回收其主力火箭猎鹰9号而闻名，但那些航天器只有部分可重复使用，任务结束后仍有部分被销毁或弃用。（背景知识来自于https://finance.eastmoney.com/a/202410143204457398.html）
五、参考答案
Question 1: B
Question 2: C
Question 3: B
六、网络翻译
SpaceX公司成功完成了其星舰火箭系统的第五次测试。此次无人测试于周日在该美国太空公司位于德克萨斯州博卡奇卡的发射中心进行。飞行期间，这枚121米高的星舰由SpaceX的超重型助推火箭成功推入太空。达到约70公里的高度后，助推器按计划与星舰的第二级（或顶部）分离。此后，地面控制人员指挥助推器返回发射中心。着陆前，火箭重新点燃了33个猛禽发动机中的三个，以控制减速，使助推器得以顺利着陆。助推器随后定位着陆，首次由一个大型结构的金属臂“接住”并固定。SpaceX提供的视频显示助推器精准地被结构抓住，如计划般顺利完成。稍后，星舰的第二级安全降落在印度洋。 此次测试飞行和成功的着陆展示了SpaceX星舰系统的进展。美国国家航空航天局（NASA）计划使用星舰将下一批美国宇航员送上月球，这将是自1972年阿波罗17号任务以来首次登月。NASA官员设定的下一次登月日期为2026年9月，是阿尔忒弥斯计划的一部分。阿尔忒弥斯计划还将寻求在月球周边建立永久基地，以支持持续的月球访问以及未来可能的火星任务。 SpaceX因近年来的多次成功展示和任务而被选为NASA计划的登月任务的领导者。自2020年以来，该公司的火箭和飞船已稳定地将宇航员和物资运送至国际空间站（ISS）。NASA还选择了另一家美国航天公司波音作为阿尔忒弥斯计划的潜在合作伙伴，但波音的“星际客机”火箭在过去的测试飞行中面临了重大延误和问题。最近一次测试中，星际客机成功将两名美国宇航员Butch Wilmore和Suni Williams送至国际空间站，他们原定在太空停留一周。然而，星际客机的持续技术问题导致无法返程。NASA最近决定让星际客机空载返回地球，计划让Wilmore和Williams于明年2月搭乘SpaceX的龙飞船返回家园。 在SpaceX的最新任务之前，几艘星舰火箭在测试飞行中爆炸。上一次没有爆炸的测试是在6月完成的。那次飞行中，SpaceX报告称星舰外部的耐热瓷砖受到了部分损坏，但自那时以来的改进显然已奏效。此次飞行后，SpaceX首席执行官Elon Musk表示，火箭整体状况良好，仅有一些外部发动机部件因高温而出现轻微变形，并指出这些部件可以轻松修复。
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