9.Junk is everywhere,even in space.But getting rid of space junk is much harder than simply cleaning your bedroom.Space junk travels at 8 kilometers a second,according to an article in the Guardian.Catching it is a bit of a challenge.
Luckily,scientists at the Swiss space center have a new cleaning plan.Theyare about to send a"cleaner satellite"into space within the next five year?.It will clean up space junk,according to a report in the Guardian.
Named"Clean Space One",the Swiss satellite finds its target and moves close to it.When it reaches its target,it will catch the junk with a gripping claw (抓手).This is not going to be an easy task because both the satellite and the junk are traveling so fast.
Once Clean Space One has caught the junk,all it has to do to get rid of it is to fly back to Earth.This is because the junk will bum up when traveling through the atmosphere.The satellite itself will burn up a',the same time.
Ever since people started to send objects into space more than 50 years ago,there has been junk in space.Junk on Earth like food wrappers (包裝紙)or waste paper is also a problem.But space junk is mainly made up of exploded rockets and broken satellites.If no one cleans them away,they just keep traveling around Earth.
So far,NASA has found 16.000 pieces of junk that are larger than 10cm in diameter(直徑)and more than 500,000 pieces measuring between 1cm and 10cm.You can imagine how many even smaller ones there are in space.
Space junk is dangerous for spacecraft (飛船) and the International Space Station.Even a very small piece could seriously damage-or even destroy-a satellite or space-craft if it collided (碰撞) with the junk.The International Space Station has to regularly change its orbit to avoid space junk,
Space junk might also be a danger to humans.During the last four months,three very large spacecraft have fallen to Earth.Fortunately,no one was hurt because the junk landed in the ocean.
45.According to the article,space junkD.
A.travels at the same speed as satellites
B.could be cleared away within five years
C.travels at 8 kilometers per hour
D.will cause a lot of trouble to space stations
46.What will happen to the space junk if it is not cleaned up?C
A.It will explode in a few years.
B.It will drift away from Earth eventually.
C.It will keep traveling around Earth.
D.It will gather and become a large mass.
47.Which of the following is TRUE about a"cleaner satellite"?B
A.The junk is dealt with after it reaches Earth.
B.Catching space junk is difficult for a satellite.
C.The'satellite can catch several pieces of junk at once.
D.The satellite goes back to space after it has finished its task.
48.Which of the following statements is TRUE?A
A.The history of space junk dates back 50 years.
B.Space stations travel in the same orbit as the junk.
C.Space junk is harmless to people on Earth.
D.It's impossible to stop space junk from colliding with spacecrafts.