利用气球搭载乘客的太空舱

昝亚娟

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 （氦气）. 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”网站，有删改）

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：细节理解题。根据材料第二段中的“The company...is planning on launching space-viewing balloons that will make space tourism available to people”，我们可知，这个公司计划发射太空观光气球，让那些不富裕或没有火箭驾驶技能的人也能进行太空旅游。故最佳答案为D。

2.B。解析：细节理解题。根据材料第五段第二句“It will take two-hours to rise and will stay there for an hour before beginning its descent.”，我们可知，气球将花费两个小时的时间载着乘客升空。故最佳答案为B。

3.D。解析：细节理解题。根据材料第七段中的“which is still a bargain compared to space rockets”，我們可知，通过气球进行太空旅行这个项目价格相对低廉。故最佳答案为D。

4.A。解析：推理判断题。本文介绍了一个名为Iwaya Giken的日本公司研发出通过气球进行太空旅行的项目，使普通人能够进行太空观光。故最佳答案为A。