CCTV9英语新闻：Seattle manufacturers drawing space junkies

In the US, Washington state’s aerospace 1 industry has always been associated with industry giant Boeing, but that may be changing. A growing number of smaller businesses focused on commercial space flight are moving to the Pacific Northwest. 

 

Their numbers may be small, but their dreams are big.

 

Companies like Planetary Resources, which plans to mine asteroids 2 approaching Earth.

 

And Aerojet Rocketdyne. One of an estimated 20 to 30 outer space-related businesses employing about 1,000 workers in the U.S. state of Washington, and boasting some of technology’s biggest names as backers.

 

"A couple of examples of some well-known folks like Paul Allen, Jeff Bezos, and even Bill Gates has made some investments in space-related companies." Joe Landon, Managing Director of Space Angels Network said.

 

Bezos’ Blue Origin is one of the four companies NASA has chosen as a potential partner to build a replacement 3 craft for the space shuttle-- to bring people to the International Space Station.

 

Space-flight investor 4 Joe Landon moved his company from San Francisco two years ago.

 

He believes the state’s mix of big-time investors 5, technological 6 expertise 7 and Boeing’s manufacturing legacy 8 are unmatched anywhere in the U.S.

 

"It’s more hardware focused than Silicon 9 Valley startups are. So you need a combination of technical talent, but also the ability to hire people that can weld, that can be machinists." Joe Landon said.

 

For decades, Boeing and its suppliers have dominated Washington state’s aerospace industry. For state leaders, growing the space cluster is a key priority.But so far, Washington state has not offered any tax incentives 10 for space-related businesses.

 

"We’re working to encourage companies to come together, understand what each others are doing, build out the supply chain here for space companies. And we think there’s a huge upside." Alex Pietsch, Dierctor fo WA State Office of Aerosapce said.

 

And local players are putting on the hard sell to companies worried about the downside of putting tens of millions of dollars on the line.

 

"They see an opportunity to get really great returns on their investment by investing early in this industry." Joe Landon said.

 

An industry taking flight in a state that already knows a lot about getting off the ground. Airliner 11 taking off.

 

点击收听单词发音  






1
aerospace

  
 


adj.航空的，宇宙航行的


参考例句：





The world's entire aerospace industry is feeling the chill winds of recession.全世界的航空航天工业都感受到了经济衰退的寒意。
Edward Murphy was an aerospace engineer for the US Army.爱德华·墨菲是一名美军的航宇工程师。












2
asteroids

  
 


n.小行星( asteroid的名词复数 )；海盘车，海星


参考例句：





Asteroids,also known as "minor planets",are numerous in the outer space. 小行星，亦称为“小型行星”，在外太空中不计其数。
Most stars probably have their quota of planets, meteorids, comets, and asteroids. 多数恒星也许还拥有若干行星、流星、彗星和小行星。












3
replacement

  
 


n.取代，替换，交换；替代品，代用品


参考例句：





We are hard put to find a replacement for our assistant.我们很难找到一个人来代替我们的助手。
They put all the students through the replacement examination.他们让所有的学生参加分班考试。












4
investor

  
 


n.投资者，投资人


参考例句：





My nephew is a cautious investor.我侄子是个小心谨慎的投资者。
The investor believes that his investment will pay off handsomely soon.这个投资者相信他的投资不久会有相当大的收益。












5
investors

  
 


n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )


参考例句：





a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会












6
technological

  
 


adj.技术的；工艺的


参考例句：





A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.一家成功的公司必须得跟上技术变革的步伐。
Today,the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements.当今， 随着科技进步，生活节奏不断增快。












7
expertise

  
 


n.专门知识(或技能等)，专长


参考例句：





We were amazed at his expertise on the ski slopes.他斜坡滑雪的技能使我们赞叹不已。
You really have the technical expertise in a new breakthrough.让你真正在专业技术上有一个全新的突破。












8
legacy

  
 


n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西


参考例句：





They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。












9
silicon

  
 


n.硅(旧名矽)


参考例句：





This company pioneered the use of silicon chip.这家公司开创了使用硅片的方法。
A chip is a piece of silicon about the size of a postage stamp.芯片就是一枚邮票大小的硅片。












10
incentives

  
 


激励某人做某事的事物( incentive的名词复数 )； 刺激； 诱因； 动机


参考例句：





tax incentives to encourage savings 鼓励储蓄的税收措施
Furthermore, subsidies provide incentives only for investments in equipment. 更有甚者，提供津贴仅是为鼓励增添设备的投资。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法












11
airliner

  
 


n.客机，班机


参考例句：





The pilot landed the airliner safely.驾驶员使客机安全着陆。
The passengers were shepherded across the tarmac to the airliner.旅客们被引导走过跑道去上飞机。