2. Mercury space program

Mercury program monument

Project Mercury was the first human spaceflight program of the United States. It ran from 1959 through 1963 with the goal of putting a man in orbit around the Earth. The Mercury-Atlas 6 flight on February 20, 1962 was the first Mercury flight to achieve this goal.

Early planning and research was carried out by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, and the program was officially conducted by the newly created NASA. The name comes from Mercury, a Roman mythological god who is often seen as a symbol of speed. Mercury is also the name of the innermost planet of the solar system, which revolves around the sun faster than any other, hence the image of speed, although Project Mercury had no other connection to that planet.

The Mercury program cost $1.5 billion. (wikipedia)

影片简介

《从地球到月球From the Earth to the Moon》一片是1998年HBO著名的电视剧作品。It was co-produced by Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, Tom Hanks, and Michael Bostick detailing the landmark Apollo expeditions to the Moon during the 1960s and early 1970s. Largely based on Andrew Chaikin's book, A Man on the Moon, the series is known for its accurate telling of the story of Apollo and outstanding special effects.

The series takes its title from, but is not based upon, the famous Jules Verne science fiction novel, From the Earth to the Moon. The last episode of the series begins with a look at the making of Georges Méliès' film based upon the book.

该剧1999年在当年“艾美奖"获得的奖项有十七项之多，并赢得了同年的金球奖。

考考你

将下面的句子译成英语。

1. 简向宴会组织者要了一份和摩根夫妇的婚礼宴会差不多的菜谱。

2. 我不确定。应该在1933到1936年之间吧。

3. 不久的将来我们就会有辆车了。

Fast food nation《快餐帝国》（精讲之六）考考你 参考答案

1. Hang in there! You'll soon catch on to the language.

坚持学习！你很快就会掌握这种语言的。

2. He came off badly when challenged by reporters at the press.

在新闻发布会上，面对记者的提问他表现的很糟糕。

 

影片对白  Man has traversed the reaches of outer space, and that man is a Communist.

文化面面观   Gagarin & Mercury space program 加加林和美国太空计划