「火箭實驗室」成功發射首枚商用電子火箭

ONE PIECE OF THE WORLDS

ONE WORLD OF THE PIECES

「火箭實驗室」成功發射首枚商用電子火箭

Rocket Lab has fired up business with its first successful commercial launch.

「火箭實驗室」首次成功的商業發射促進了產業發展。

The US-New Zealand startup launched its Electron rocket carrying six satellites on Sunday. The Electron—about a quarter the size of SpaceXs 70-meter tall Falcon 9—is designed to loft cargo weighing 150 to 225 kg (330 to 496 lb) into Earths orbit.

這家美國和紐西蘭合資的初創公司周日發射了一枚運載了6顆衛星的電子火箭。這枚電子火箭大約是SpaceX 70米高的獵鷹9號的四分之一大小，它被設計用於將重達150到225公斤(330到496磅)的貨物送入地球軌道。

The successful launch gives Rocket Lab a dominant position in the fast-growing market for small boosters. It can expect business from dozens of well-funded companies building expansive constellations of small satellites that rely on powerful, miniaturized electronics.

這次成功的發射使「火箭實驗室」在快速增長的小型助推器市場上佔據了主導地位。數十家資金雄厚的公司正在建造龐大的小型衛星群，這些衛星群依賴於強大的微型化電子設備。「火箭實驗室」可以期待與這些大公司展開合作。

Its nearest competitors—including Richard Bransons Virgin Orbit; Vector Launch, founded by former SpaceX team members; and Firefly Aerospace—now face renewed pressure to get to orbit.

「火箭實驗室」最強勁的競爭對手——包括理查德·布蘭森的維珍軌道公司;由前SpaceX團隊成員創立的Vector Launch;螢火蟲航空公司——現在面臨著進入地球軌道的新壓力。

WORDS & EXPRESSIONS

fire up

If you fire someone up, you make them feel very enthusiastic or motivated. 激勵；鼓舞

We can fire up the application again and the table will be there.

be designed to

打算；旨在；目的是；被設計用於

It would be designed to replace the 1997 Kyoto protocol, which expires in 2012.

booster

A booster is an extra engine in a machine such as a space rocket, which provides an extra amount of power at certain times. 助推器

The huge, showy booster rockets fallen away, it was just a little glider or an aeroplane.

expansive

Very large in area, or using a lot of space. （面積）廣闊的，遼闊的

The Mulu Caves in Borneo are some of the most expansive on Earth.

a constellation of sth /,k?nst?le??(?)n/

A group of people or things that are similar. 一群（相似的人）；一系列（相似的事物）

They constitute our cultural firmament, the constellation of our stars.

miniaturize /m?n?t??ra?z/

To make something in a very small size. 使微型化，使小型化

The filter is reduced in size and can be used to miniaturize the circuit.