India Successfully Shoots Down Satellite in Missile Test
印度成功試射導彈擊落衛(wèi)星
India has successfully test-fired a missile that destroyed a low-orbit satellite in space.
印度成功試射了一枚導彈,摧毀了太空中一顆低軌道衛(wèi)星。
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the test Wednesday in a nationally televised speech. He said the development marked a major step forward in the nation's efforts to become a world power in space technology.
印度總理莫迪周三在全國電視講話中宣布了這項測試。他說,這標志著該國成為全球空間技術大國的努力邁出了一大步。
"Our scientists shot down a live satellite 300 kilometers away in space, in low-earth orbit," Modi announced, speaking in Hindi. He added that through the test, India had "registered its name as a space power."
莫迪用印地語宣布:“我們的科學家擊落了太空300公里以外的低地球軌道上的一顆活動衛(wèi)星。”他還說,通過這次測試,印度已經(jīng)躋身為太空強國。
Satellites collect valuable information and carry out important communication activities during modern warfare. Anti-satellite weapons permit enemies to attack the equipment. The same technology can also be used to develop weapons to block incoming missiles.
衛(wèi)星在現(xiàn)代戰(zhàn)爭期間用于收集有價值情報并進行重要的通訊活動。反衛(wèi)星武器讓對手可以攻擊這種設備。同樣的技術還能用于開發(fā)反導武器。
Modi said the test was not designed to create "an atmosphere of war" with any of its neighbors. "I want to assure the world community that the new capability is not against anyone. This is to secure and defend fast-growing India," he said.
莫迪說,這次測試并不是為了同任何鄰國制造戰(zhàn)爭氣氛。他說:“我想向國際社會保證,這項新能力不會對任何國家產(chǎn)生影響。這是為了保護和捍衛(wèi)快速發(fā)展的印度。”
India's foreign ministry said the anti-satellite system was meant to protect against possible threats against the country's "growing space-based assets." In addition, the technology would help guard against possible missile attacks, the statement said.
印度外交部表示,反衛(wèi)星系統(tǒng)旨在防范該國“日益增長的太空資產(chǎn)”可能面臨的威脅。此外,此項技術還有助于防范可能的導彈襲擊。
Very few countries have used such weapons. India became just the fourth nation to do so, following the United States, China and Russia.
很少有國家使用過這種武器。印度成為繼美國、中國和俄羅斯之后,第四個這樣做的國家。
Such abilities have made some countries fear that anti-satellite technology could fuel the development of new space weapons, security experts say. This could set off a race between competing nations.
安全專家表示,這種能力使得一些國家擔心反衛(wèi)星技術可能助長新太空武器的發(fā)展,這可能會引發(fā)競爭國家之間的競賽。
After India's announcement, China's foreign ministry said it hoped all countries would seek to continually "protect lasting peace and tranquility in space."
中國外交部在印度宣告之后表示,希望所有國家都能繼續(xù)“維護太空的持久和平與安寧。”
In the U.S., acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan warned that such tests risk leaving a "mess" in space from the pieces they leave behind. "My message would be: We all live in space, let's not make it a mess," Shanahan said. "Space should be a place where we can conduct business. Space is a place where people should have the freedom to operate."
美國代理國防部長帕特里克·沙納漢(Patrick Shanahan)警告稱,這種測試面臨風險,其留下的碎片可能會給太空造成混亂。沙納漢表示:“我想說的是,這是我們共同的太空,不要讓它變得一團糟。太空應該是我們開展業(yè)務的地方,應該是人們自由運作的地方。”
Anti-satellite weapons that break up their targets can send many pieces flying through space. Experts say these pieces, also called debris, could threaten satellites or spacecraft in Earth's orbit.
摧毀目標的反衛(wèi)星武器會讓很多碎片在太空亂飛。專家稱這些碎片可能會威脅到地球軌道上的衛(wèi)星或航天器。
India's foreign ministry said after its missile test that officials believed there was little risk of major debris created that could hit other objects. It said this was because the test happened in low-Earth orbit and the pieces were expected to "decay and fall back on to the Earth within weeks."
印度外交部在進行導彈試驗后表示,有關方面認為產(chǎn)生會撞到其它物體的大型碎片的風險很小。它或這是因為測試發(fā)生在低地球軌道上,預計這些碎片會在幾周內(nèi)分解并掉回到地球上。
A spokesman for the U.S. Department of Defense said the military's Strategic Command was tracking more than 250 pieces of debris from India's missile test and would continue to do so.
美國國防部發(fā)言人表示,軍方的戰(zhàn)略指揮部正在跟蹤印度導彈試驗中的250多塊碎片,并將會保持下去。
India has at times experienced tense relations with its neighbor to the north, Pakistan. Both nations are nuclear-armed powers. In February, 40 Indian soldiers were killed in a suicide bombing in Kashmir, a disputed area claimed by both India and Pakistan. Later, India reported it had answered the bombing with a "surgical strike" on a terrorist camp in Pakistan.
印度不時同北方鄰國巴基斯坦發(fā)生緊張關系。這兩個國家都是核武器國家。今年2月,有40名印度士兵在克什米爾地區(qū)發(fā)生的自殺性爆炸中身亡,克什米爾地區(qū)是印巴都宣示主權的有爭議地區(qū)。有報道稱,隨后印度對巴基斯坦的恐怖分子營地進行了“外科手術式打擊”作為回應。
Pakistan's foreign ministry reacted to India's anti-satellite test in a statement. "Space is the common heritage of mankind and every nation has the responsibility to avoid actions which can lead to the militarization of this arena," the statement said.
巴基斯坦外交部在一份聲明中對印度的反衛(wèi)星測試做出了回應。聲明稱:“太空是人類的共同遺產(chǎn)。每個國家都有責任避免采取可能導致這一領域軍事化的行動。”
Modi's announcement came just two weeks before a general election. Some opposition politicians accused Modi of trying to earn political favor by announcing the test on national television.
莫迪是在大選兩個星期前宣布這一消息的。一些反對派政客指責莫迪試圖通過在全國電視上宣布這次測試來獲得政治上的支持。
I'm Bryan Lynn.
布萊恩·琳恩報道。
India has successfully test-fired a missile that destroyed a low-orbit satellite in space.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the test Wednesday in a nationally televised speech. He said the development marked a major step forward in the nation’s efforts to become a world power in space technology.
“Our scientists shot down a live satellite 300 kilometers away in space, in low-earth orbit,” Modi announced, speaking in Hindi. He added that through the test, India had “registered its name as a space power.”
Satellites collect valuable information and carry out important communication activities during modern warfare. Anti-satellite weapons permit enemies to attack the equipment. The same technology can also be used to develop weapons to block incoming missiles.
Modi said the test was not designed to create "an atmosphere of war" with any of its neighbors. "I want to assure the world community that the new capability is not against anyone. This is to secure and defend fast-growing India," he said.
India’s foreign ministry said the anti-satellite system was meant to protect against possible threats against the country’s “growing space-based assets.” In addition, the technology would help guard against possible missile attacks, the statement said.
Very few countries have used such weapons. India became just the fourth nation to do so, following the United States, China and Russia.
Such abilities have made some countries fear that anti-satellite technology could fuel the development of new space weapons, security experts say. This could set off a race between competing nations.
After India’s announcement, China’s foreign ministry said it hoped all countries would seek to continually “protect lasting peace and tranquility in space.”
In the U.S., acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan warned that such tests risk leaving a “mess” in space from the pieces they leave behind. “My message would be: We all live in space, let’s not make it a mess,” Shanahan said. “Space should be a place where we can conduct business. Space is a place where people should have the freedom to operate.”
Anti-satellite weapons that break up their targets can send many pieces flying through space. Experts say these pieces, also called debris, could threaten satellites or spacecraft in Earth’s orbit.
India’s foreign ministry said after its missile test that officials believed there was little risk of major debris created that could hit other objects. It said this was because the test happened in low-Earth orbit and the pieces were expected to “decay and fall back on to the Earth within weeks.”
A spokesman for the U.S. Department of Defense said the military’s Strategic Command was tracking more than 250 pieces of debris from India’s missile test and would continue to do so.
India has at times experienced tense relations with its neighbor to the north, Pakistan. Both nations are nuclear-armed powers. In February, 40 Indian soldiers were killed in a suicide bombing in Kashmir, a disputed area claimed by both India and Pakistan. Later, India reported it had answered the bombing with a “surgical strike” on a terrorist camp in Pakistan.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry reacted to India’s anti-satellite test in a statement. “Space is the common heritage of mankind and every nation has the responsibility to avoid actions which can lead to the militarization of this arena,” the statement said.
Modi’s announcement came just two weeks before a general election. Some opposition politicians accused Modi of trying to earn political favor by announcing the test on national television.
I’m Bryan Lynn.
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Words in This Story
assure – v. make something sure
asset – n. something of value that is owned
tranquility – n. feeling of calm and quietness
mess – n. state of disorder
decay – v. gradually become weak or destroyed
surgical – adj. resembling the exact, careful work of a surgeon
heritage – n. traditions or practices passed down in a culture or society
arena – n. place or area of interest