VOA慢速英语:太阳能飞机意在环球飞行
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From VOA Learning English, this is the Technology Report.
美国之音英语教学，这里是科技报道。
In 2012, a team of pilots and engineers from Switzerland successfully flew a plane powered by sun light from Spain to Morocco. The same team flew the aircraft across the United States in 2013. Now, the Swiss team is preparing for a flight around the world in 2015. The new, improved version of the plane, named Solar Impulse 2, was recently shown in Switzerland.
2012年，一队来自瑞士的飞行员和工程师成功驾驶一架太阳能飞机从西班牙飞到摩洛哥。同一个团队于2013年驾驶该飞机横跨美国。现在，这个瑞士团队正筹备2015年进行一次环球飞行。这架全新的改进版飞机最近在瑞士进行了展示，它被命名阳光动力2号(Solar Impulse 2)。
Solar Impulse 2 is a very light, single-seat airplane. Its wings are 63 meters across. This large wingspan provides 200 square meters of space for energy cells that charge lithium-ion batteries. These special batteries are needed to keep the plane flying at night.
阳光动力2号是一架轻型单座飞机，其机翼宽达63米。这个大翼展为给锂离子电池充电的能源元件提供了200平米的空间。这些特制电池被用于保障飞机的夜间飞行。
Four electric motors permit the plane to cruise at a speed of up to 140 kilometers per hour, at an average height of 8,500 meters above sea level. The longest flight of Solar Impulse 1 was made in May 2013. The plane flew from Phoenix, Arizona to Dallas, Texas, a distance of just over 1,500 kilometers.
四台电力马达可以让飞机在平均海拔8500米的高度以140公里每小时的速度巡航。阳光动力1号最长的一次飞行是在2013年5月，当时这架飞机从从亚利桑那州菲尼克斯市飞到得克萨斯州达拉斯市，距离超过1500公里。
Pilot Andre Borschberg says Solar Impulse 2 will be able to fly much longer distances between stops.
飞行员安德烈·博尔施伯格(Andre Borschberg)表示，阳光动力2号能够在机场之间飞行更长距离。
"When we leave the coast of China, we don't know what the weather looks like on the side of the ocean. So these are big question marks," said Borschberg.
博尔施伯格说：“当我们离开中国海岸，我们不知道大洋另一面的天气状况。所以有很大问题。”
12 years of research and testing went into building Solar Impulse 2. The researchers and testers believe the aircraft will be able to fly around the world in 20 to 25 days and nights.
建造阳光动力2号耗费了12年的研究和测试。研究人员和测试人员认为，这架飞机能够在20到25个日夜内完成环球飞行。
Andre Borschberg once flew jets for the Swiss Air Force. He says every detail on the airplane is designed to save energy.
博尔施伯格曾经在瑞士空军服役。他说，飞机上的每个细节都是为了节省能源。
"This airplane is an example of energy efficiency, how we save the energy, and how the energy from the sun is enough to keep the airplane in the air day and night," said Borschberg.
博尔施伯格说：“这架飞机是能效的一个实例。如何节能，以及如何让太阳能足够维持飞机日夜飞行。”
Mr. Borschberg will be able to sleep or even exercise when using the autopilot, a flight assistance device.
博尔施伯格将能够在使用自动驾驶仪时睡觉甚至锻炼。自动驾驶仪是一种飞行辅助装置。
Bertrand Piccard is the Chairman of the Solar Impulse project. He says the goal of the flight around world is to support energy efficiency.
伯特兰·皮卡德(Bertrand Piccard)是阳光动力项目的总裁。他说，环球飞行的目的是为了支持能效。
"It is to bring products to their clients which are more energy efficient: in home buildings, in the transportation, in appliances, it can be lighting," Piccard said.
皮卡德说：“这是为了给客户带来更高能效的产品：在住宅、交通运输和家用电器中，它能用于照明。”
Solar Impulse 2 begins test flights in May. The flight around the world is planned to start next March from an airport somewhere along the Persian Gulf.
阳光动力2号于今年5月开始试飞。环球飞行拟定于明年3月从沿波斯湾的某个机场开始进行。
Solar-powered Plane Aims for Round-the-World Flight
From VOA Learning English, this is the Technology Report.
In 2012, a team of pilots and engineers from Switzerland successfully flew a plane powered by sun light from Spain to Morocco. The same team flew the aircraft across the United States in 2013. Now, the Swiss team is preparing for a flight around the world in 2015. The new, improved version of the plane, named Solar Impulse 2, was recently shown in Switzerland.
Solar Impulse 2 is a very light, single-seat airplane. Its wings are 63 meters across. This large wingspan provides 200 square meters of space for energy cells that charge lithium-ion batteries. These special batteries are needed to keep the plane flying at night.
Four electric motors permit the plane to cruise at a speed of up to 140 kilometers per hour, at an average height of 8,500 meters above sea level. The longest flight of Solar Impulse 1 was made in May 2013. The plane flew from Phoenix, Arizona to Dallas, Texas, a distance of just over 1,500 kilometers.
Pilot Andre Borschberg says Solar Impulse 2 will be able to fly much longer distances between stops.
"When we leave the coast of China, we don't know what the weather looks like on the side of the ocean. So these are big question marks," said Borschberg.
12 years of research and testing went into building Solar Impulse 2. The researchers and testers believe the aircraft will be able to fly around the world in 20 to 25 days and nights.
Andre Borschberg once flew jets for the Swiss Air Force. He says every detail on the airplane is designed to save energy.
"This airplane is an example of energy efficiency, how we save the energy, and how the energy from the sun is enough to keep the airplane in the air day and night," said Borschberg.
Mr. Borschberg will be able to sleep or even exercise when using the autopilot, a flight assistance device.
Bertrand Piccard is the Chairman of the Solar Impulse project. He says the goal of the flight around world is to support energy efficiency.
"It is to bring products to their clients which are more energy efficient: in home buildings, in the transportation, in appliances, it can be lighting," Piccard said.
Solar Impulse 2 begins test flights in May. The flight around the world is planned to start next March from an airport somewhere along the Persian Gulf.
And that's the VOA Learning English Technology Report. For more technology stories go to our website chinavoa.com. I'm Jonathan Evans.
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