第2939期:Carrier rocket launches small satellite

This rocket is a rideshare to space for small satellites. We are the Uber and Lyft of low-earth orbit spacelift.这枚火箭可以让小卫星搭便车进入太空。我们是低地球轨道太空运输的传送者。Instead of passengers, the Rocket Lab vehicle carries small satellites.火箭实验室运载的是小型卫星， 而不是乘客。This is the amount of space each rocket has for satellites. It's about the size of the back of a pickup truck or the trunk of an SUV.这是每枚火箭为卫星预留的空间，大约相当于皮卡车或SUV的后备箱。Just like packing different sized suitcases for a trip, the number of satellites on each rocket varies depending on the size and type.就像旅行时打包不同大小的行李箱一样，每枚火箭上搭载的卫星数量也取决于大小和类型。The satellites can be as small as a tissue box, or as big as a dishwasher.卫星可以小到纸巾盒大小， 或者和洗碗机一样大。Rocket Lab's Lars Hoffman says, unlike some other rockets on the market, Rocket Lab's vehicle is smaller, and comes with some advantages for satellite delivery.火箭实验室的拉尔斯·霍夫曼表示，与市场上其他一些火箭不同，火箭实验室的运载火箭体积更小，在卫星运输方面具有一些优势。If they ride with a larger launch vehicle, it's more like riding a city bus, where it is a little bit different riding.如果它们搭载在更大的运载火箭上，就更像是乘坐城市公交车，体验会略有不同。You may not be dropped off exactly where you want to be. For us, where that custom ride takes you exactly where you want to be.你可能不会被准确传送到想去的地方。对我们来说，定制的乘坐路线会带你到达想去的地方。Once in low-earth orbit, the satellites are either released or stay attached to a section of the spacecraft called a Photon, which can stay in orbit and becomes its own satellite.一旦进入低地球轨道，卫星要么被释放，要么附着在名为“光子”的航天器部件上。光子可以留在轨道上，成为独立的卫星。Commercial customers and US government agencies want to put satellites in low-earth orbit for different reasons.商业客户和美国政府机构出于各种原因希望将卫星送入低地球轨道。The communications, earth observation, maybe they're taking images, maybe they're tracking radio signals, tracking ships.通讯、地球观测、 也许他们还可以拍照， 或者追踪无线电信号和船只。We build all of our rockets from scratch. We do print the engines using 3D printers.我们所有的火箭都是从零开始制造的。我们使用3D打印机打印发动机。Rocket Lab says the engines weighing 35 kilograms are the first 3D printed and electric-pump-fed engines launched to space.火箭实验室表示，这些重达35公斤的发动机是首批进入太空的3D打印电动泵送发动机。The rocket bodies are made of carbon fiber composite, and are manufactured in New Zealand by the same people who build boats.火箭主体由碳纤维复合材料制成，在新西兰由造船的同一团队制造。The vehicle is then assembled in New Zealand, and launched from there once a month.火箭随后在新西兰组装，每月从那里发射一次。Hoffmann expects to launch more rockets in the future, as the demand for satellites in low-earth orbit increases, for faster communications and Internet connection.随着对低地球轨道卫星的需求不断增长，为了实现更快的通信和互联网连接，霍夫曼预计未来将发射更多火箭。