牛津版上Unit6.doc

Module3 Unit6 Space exploration Transforming Mars Read about the ultimate travel experience in this article from a scientific journal. Ever since the beginning of history, people have dreamt of interplanetary travel. For centuries, these dreams have always remained dreams. However, scientists now want to make these dreams come true. They are planning to transform Mars so that humans can live there. Within 30 years, the first people will land on Mars and, by the year 2185, we will have established cities. In many ways, Mars is the planet most similar to Earth. A Martian day lasts about 24 1/2 hours (although a year has 697 days.) while there is no water, there is a lot of ice in the two polar ice caps. The average temperature is -60℃. The plan involves changing Mars so that id becomes more like Earth. This means using the ‘greenhouse effect’ (which we are trying to stop on earth). The suggested programme would have five main stages. Stage1(AD2030-2045) The first expedition arrives on Mars, after a journey by spacecraft of about six months. The members construct underground buildings, conduct experiments, look for good sites for future landings, and also check for signs of life. They can survive only as long as they wear spacesuits, because 95 per cent of the atmosphere is carbon dioxide. Nonetheless, the low gravity (one-third of Earth’s) means they can move around easily. Stage2 (AD2045-2095) More expeditions arrive. Huge solar mirrors are put in orbit round Mars to heat the polar ice caps. The ice caps are sprayed black, so that they do not reflect the heat away. Chemicals are released into the air. As a result, the atmosphere becomes thicker and retains more of the Sun’s heat. If the greenhouse effect can be started, the ice caps will melt, releasing water vapour, and the temperature will rise to -40 ℃ Stage3 (AD2095-2130) Next, plants are introduced from earth. If these plants can survive on Mars, carbon dioxide can be converted into oxygen. The first cloud