CNN News: 宇航員在太空中并不孤單

Two hundred forty-nine miles over our heads, astronauts on the International Space Station recently discovered they`re not alone. It`s not aliens, though. It`s bacteria -- specifically, Corynebacterium and Propionibacterium. Scientists think it just hitched a ride on space cargo to get to the station.

最近國際空間站的宇航員在我們上空249英里發(fā)現(xiàn)他們并不是孤零零的。但是陪著他們的不是外星人，是細(xì)菌啦——確切的來說，是棒狀桿菌屬和丙酸菌屬?？茖W(xué)家認(rèn)為這些細(xì)菌只是搭載太空貨物來到了空間站。

Many of us have encountered both of these bacteria. The first one causes respiratory infections. The second one, acne. But that`s on earth.

我們很多人都遇見過這些細(xì)菌。第一種細(xì)菌可以引起呼吸道感染，而第二種細(xì)菌可以引發(fā)粉刺。但是我們遇見這些細(xì)菌是在地球上。

Scientists think weightlessness could cause bacteria to behave differently.

科學(xué)家認(rèn)為失重可以導(dǎo)致細(xì)菌的行為有所不同。

And as NASA aims for longer, farther missions away, like one to Mars, they`re keeping close tabs on bacteria and astronauts health.

美國宇航局計劃時間更長、距離更遠(yuǎn)的任務(wù)，例如出發(fā)去火星，他們會密切關(guān)注這些細(xì)菌和宇航員的健康。

The International Space Station orbits the Earth every 90 minutes, traveling about 17,500 miles per hour.

國際空間站繞地球轉(zhuǎn)動一周的時間是90分鐘，同時速度為每小時17,500英里每小時。

But daily life in lower Earth orbit is hard work, and at times complicated. Even getting clean is a challenge. No shower here, instead, they use towels, wipes and a rinse-less shampoo.

但是在地球低軌道進(jìn)行日常生活是一件困難的事情，甚至有時候會非常復(fù)雜。甚至清理干凈是一項挑戰(zhàn)。在低軌道上不能洗澡、因此，宇航員使用毛巾擦洗，同時使用一種不同沖洗的洗發(fā)露。

On board this $100 billion research laboratory, there are never more than six crew members at a time. They stay for about six months, which can feel like an eternity living on pre-packaged food.

在太空艙的價值1000億美元的實驗室里，乘務(wù)人員從沒有一次超過6人。他們在那里呆半年，就像永遠(yuǎn)生活在預(yù)先包裝好的食物里。

There are no refrigerators in space, and salt and pepper only in liquid form, otherwise the particles would be airborne, clogging air vents or getting in an astronaut`s eye. Peanut butter on a specially packaged tortilla is a space station staple.

在太空里沒有冰箱，同時只有液態(tài)的鹽和辣椒，否則的話這些顆粒將會隨空氣漂浮，這樣就會堵塞通風(fēng)口、并進(jìn)入宇航員的的眼睛。經(jīng)過特殊包裝的花生醬是空間站上的主要產(chǎn)品。

A weightless tortilla. OK. We got one tortilla. Wow, it got away.

一個失重的玉米餅。好的，我們拿到了一個玉米餅。天呀，它又飄走了。

Most of the day is spent working on science experiments that only a micro-gravity environment can provide.

一天的大部分時間都會花在科學(xué)實驗上，而這是實驗只有在微重力的條件下可以做。

There are also medical experiments, which can judge how well their bodies adjust to life in space for long periods of time.

同時還有醫(yī)學(xué)實驗，這些醫(yī)學(xué)實驗可以判斷人體在太空長時間的適應(yīng)程度。

And while you may be weightless in space, exercise is a must using equipment you won`t find on Earth, like this treadmill.

盡管你在太空中是失重的，鍛煉是必須的，需要使用在地球上找不到的設(shè)備，例如這種特殊的跑步機。

Sleeping is easier, as long as the astronauts remember to tie down their sleeping bags.

睡覺是一件比較容易的事情，只要宇航員記得要躺在自己的睡袋里面哦~