利用氣球搭載乘客的太空艙

昝亞娟

Space tourism has arrived！ A Japanese startup plans on opening space up to ordinary people.

The company， Iwaya Giken， based in Sapporo in Northern Japan， is planning on launching space-viewing balloons that will make space tourism available to people who are not wealthy or have the skills needed to fly a rocket， reported AP News.

“Its safe， economical， and gentle for people，” Keisuke Iwaya， the CEO of the company， told reporters at a press conference in Tokyo on February 21， 2023. “The idea is to make space tourism for everyone.”

The company developed an airtight cabin that can fit two people—a pilot and passenger—and a balloon that is capable of rising to an altitude of 25 kilometers， according to Fast Company. It took 12 years to develop.

Unlike rockets and hot air balloons， the reusable balloons will be lifted by helium （氦氣）. It will take two-hours to rise and will stay there for an hour before beginning its descent. The capsule itself is 1，5 meters in diameter and has several windows that will allow passengers to view the earth below or the cosmos above.

Iwaya Giken teamed up with the Japanese travel agency JTB Corp to support the sales when the space capsule is ready to operate commercially， according to a blog on CN Traveler.

Applications are now being accepted until the end of August， 2023. The first five passengers will be announced in October. At this point， the price is out-of-reach at 167，000， which is still a bargain compared to space rockets， but will be reduced to the tens of thousands of euros， reported AP News.

The first flights will depart a week apart， weather permitting. While most future space travelers may dream about blasting into space in a rocket， floating into the stratosphere in a balloon capsule is a kinder and gentler way to travel.

（材料出自“Goodnet”網站，有刪改）

1. What do we know about Iwaya Giken？

A. It is a company based in Tokyo.

B. It provides international travel services.

C. It plans to produce balloons of different sizes.

D. It is trying to make it possible for ordinary people to travel in space.

2. How long does it take for the balloon to reach an attitude of 25 kilometer？

A. 1.5 hours.B. 2 hours.

C. 12 hours. D. 25 hours.

3. What advantage does the balloon travel have over space rockets？

A. Convenience. B. Higher safety reliability.

C. Higher speed. D. Lower prices.

4. What is the authors purpose of writing the passage？

A. To inform readers of a creative space travel.

B. To call the readers attention to space tourism.

C. To discuss the safety of space travel by balloon.

D. To encourage readers to apply for the space travel.

1.D。解析：細節理解題。根據材料第二段中的“The company...is planning on launching space-viewing balloons that will make space tourism available to people”，我們可知，這個公司計劃發射太空觀光氣球，讓那些不富?；驔]有火箭駕駛技能的人也能進行太空旅游。故最佳答案為D。

2.B。解析：細節理解題。根據材料第五段第二句“It will take two-hours to rise and will stay there for an hour before beginning its descent.”，我們可知，氣球將花費兩個小時的時間載著乘客升空。故最佳答案為B。

3.D。解析：細節理解題。根據材料第七段中的“which is still a bargain compared to space rockets”，我們可知，通過氣球進行太空旅行這個項目價格相對低廉。故最佳答案為D。

4.A。解析：推理判斷題。本文介紹了一個名為Iwaya Giken的日本公司研發出通過氣球進行太空旅行的項目，使普通人能夠進行太空觀光。故最佳答案為A。