SpaceX Launch Redefines American Astronaut Style
2020-05-28
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1SpaceX is making history by aiming to be the first private company to launch American astronauts into orbit.
2But the company is breaking new ground in other ways, too.
3It has designed a completely new style, or look, for its astronauts and spaceship.
4The space suits for NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley appear much thinner than traditional designs from the past.
5The smooth suits are mostly white with some gray.
6They look similar to futuristic clothing shown in many science fiction movies.
7The helmets -- also white -- have a narrower shape than the past.
8SpaceX founder Elon Musk was the driving force behind the designs.
9Musk, who also heads electronic carmaker Tesla, is a big science fiction fan.
10He is known for his colorful product launches.
11He came up with the idea to have the two astronauts get a ride to the launch pad at Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in a Tesla Model X sports car.
12Behnken and Hurley aim to be the first astronauts to launch from American soil since the last space shuttle flight in 2011.
13They say they like the fresh new look of the suits and space capsule.
14"It is really neat, and I think the biggest testament to that is my 10-year-old son telling me how cool I am now," Hurley told The Associated Press.
15The inside of the capsule is also mostly white and minimal, with large seats facing the spacecraft's displays and controls.
16"SpaceX has gone all out" on the capsule's appearance, Hurley added.
17"And they've worked equally as hard to make the innards and the displays and everything else in the vehicle work to perfection."
18The designs demonstrate the historic new direction NASA is taking as it partners with private American companies to develop U.S. spaceflight systems.
19Until now, only governments - including the United States, Russia and China - have sent astronauts into orbit.
20SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft, carried by a Falcon 9 rocket, will carry the astronauts.
21Musk named the rocket after the famous Millennium Falcon spacecraft from Star Wars.
22SpaceX designed and built its own suits, which were made to perfectly fit each individual astronaut, said SpaceX's Benji Reed.
23He said safety came first in the design and manufacturing.
24But their cool look was a close second.
25"It's important that the suits are comfortable and also are inspiring," Reed said.
26"But above all, it's designed to keep the crew safe," he added.
27Even with all the modern extras, the two astronauts prepared for the launch inside the same Kennedy Space Center building that dates back to space flights from the 1960s.
28I'm Bryan Lynn.
1SpaceX is making history by aiming to be the first private company to launch American astronauts into orbit. But the company is breaking new ground in other ways, too. It has designed a completely new style, or look, for its astronauts and spaceship. 2The space suits for NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley appear much thinner than traditional designs from the past. The smooth suits are mostly white with some gray. They look similar to futuristic clothing shown in many science fiction movies. The helmets -- also white -- have a narrower shape than the past. 3SpaceX founder Elon Musk was the driving force behind the designs. Musk, who also heads electronic carmaker Tesla, is a big science fiction fan. He is known for his colorful product launches. He came up with the idea to have the two astronauts get a ride to the launch pad at Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in a Tesla Model X sports car. 4Behnken and Hurley aim to be the first astronauts to launch from American soil since the last space shuttle flight in 2011. They say they like the fresh new look of the suits and space capsule. 5"It is really neat, and I think the biggest testament to that is my 10-year-old son telling me how cool I am now," Hurley told The Associated Press. 6The inside of the capsule is also mostly white and minimal, with large seats facing the spacecraft's displays and controls. 7"SpaceX has gone all out" on the capsule's appearance, Hurley added. "And they've worked equally as hard to make the innards and the displays and everything else in the vehicle work to perfection." 8The designs demonstrate the historic new direction NASA is taking as it partners with private American companies to develop U.S. spaceflight systems. Until now, only governments - including the United States, Russia and China - have sent astronauts into orbit. 9SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft, carried by a Falcon 9 rocket, will carry the astronauts. Musk named the rocket after the famous Millennium Falcon spacecraft from Star Wars. 10SpaceX designed and built its own suits, which were made to perfectly fit each individual astronaut, said SpaceX's Benji Reed. He said safety came first in the design and manufacturing. But their cool look was a close second. "It's important that the suits are comfortable and also are inspiring," Reed said. "But above all, it's designed to keep the crew safe," he added. 11Even with all the modern extras, the two astronauts prepared for the launch inside the same Kennedy Space Center building that dates back to space flights from the 1960s. 12I'm Bryan Lynn. 13Bryan Lynn wrote this story based on reports from The Associated Press, NASA and SpaceX. Ashley Thompson was the editor. 14We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. 15________________________________________________________________ 16Words in This Story 17break new ground - phr. do something that is different from anything that has been done before 18helmet - n. a hard hat that protects the head 19capsule - n. the part of a spacecraft that people live in 20testament - n. proof of something good 21minimal - adj. very small in amount 22display - n. electronic information shown on a computer screen 23innards - n. the inside part of a machine 24inspire - v. make someone feel that they want to do something and can do it