Space Tourism

Your next dream vacation could be out of this world
太空觀光 ,你下一趟的夢幻之旅 可能不在這個世界上.

Are you in the mood for a once-in-a-life time travel experience? Maybe you're tired of those week-long vacations lounging at some tropical paradise, and you need some real adventure. Maybe you're a long-time fan of Star Trek and Star Wars and generally have stars in your eyes about everything space-related. Perhaps you just have an extra US$200,000 lying around the house. If so, then space tourism is for you!
Believe it or not, space travel is no longer just for astronauts.

Until recently, space has primarily been the domain of governments, researchers and satellite companies. However, with the retirement of NASA's shuttle program and the escalating interest in space tourism, the "final frontier " may soon be opening up for even more people.

Over the past decade, a number of individuals have bought a ticket and embarked on a space vehicle through a company called Space Adventures. One of their clients, an American businessman named Dennis Tito, became the first space tourist. He arrived at the International Space Station via a Russian Soyuz rocket on April 30, 2001.

Currently, a handful of companies offer you a space ride with a superb view of Earth's outer atmosphere. XCOR Aerospace advertises a $95,000 suborbital flight, and 100 people have already signed up. The flight takes people 100 kilometers above Earth where the space adventurers can look back at Earth and also see the blackness of space.

They experience weightlessness for several minutes before coming back to Earth. Virgin Galactic offers a 2.5-hour suborbital flight (including five minutes of weightlessness) for only $200,000, and more than 500 prospective passengers have paid their fare. In addition to the suborbital flights, more ambitious plans are also in the works. space Adventures hopes to add orbital flights and even lunar missions to their travel menu. You might even find accommodations in a space hotel one day. If he price of space travel seems astronomical now, maybe soon it won't be so high. Space entrepreneurs project that costs will steadily drop so that space travel will not be a pastime for just the rich. Millions of Earth's inhabitants could eventually become space travelers and start to see the world in a whole new way.

Grammar Tips:
Currently, a handful of companies offer you a space ride with a superb view of Earth's outer atmosphere.
"handful" - an amount that can fit in your hand.
I grabbed a handful of popcorn.
"handful" - a small amount.
*Currently there are a few companies that offer you a space ride with a superb view of Earth's outer atmosphere.
*We only got a handful of ideas from the brainstorming meeting.
*Mr. Lee wanted a small party, so only a handful of guests were invited.

Vocabulary Tips:
lounge -悠闲的闲逛。siting or lying around, do nothing, just relax。
*Susan spent her weekend lounging in her family's lake cabin.
*Rita lounged on the beach all afternoon.
lounge - 悠闲躺卧。
*Lawrence lounged on his sofa bed and watched TV for hours.
escalate -逐步的增加，升高或扩大。
* The intense atmosphere between these two countries has been escalating lately.紧张气氛。。升高。
* House  prices in Taipei escalated in recent years.。。不断 升高
embark - go on the ship or airplane. 上船，上太空梭，上飞机。
*The passengers are embarking at gate 17. 乘客在17号门登机。
*We embarked on the cruise ship in Rome.
embark -（当及物动词使用）登船，上船
*The ship embarked all the passengers within two hours. 这条船在二小时内，让所有乘客登上船。
"final frontier " - refer to space, the words from Star Trek.
astronaut(s) - space scientist has special training in all aspects such as physical, space etc.
have stars in one's eyes - exciting something that make your eyes big, (full of stars) or some dream that dreamed all the time, now it happen, make you very excited.
shuttle - a vehicle that taking people from one place to another, and coming back.
retirement - no work (use ) any more.
superb -outstanding, very great, very excellent in quality. 一流的，上等的，极好的。重音在第二节。
*You can enjoy superb service in the restaurant.。。一流 的服务。。
*The superb view from this lakeside hotel attracts many visitors. 极好的视野。
The band's superb performance won excellent critiques.。。一流的表演赢得嘉评如潮。
prospective -预期的，可能的，或是未来的。 "spect" -see.有“看见”之意。
*Teresa is getting in touch with some prospective investors. 。。接触一些可能的投资者。
*These young, prospective talents are full of dreams and hope. 年轻有天赋的艺人充满了梦想与希望。
astronomical - 天文学的，天文的。此指“数量庞大的，数字惊人的” astro-stars.星星。
*An astronomical budget will be needed if we rebuild this stadium. 数量庞大的预算。。
*The costs of health policy reform will be astronomical. 数字惊人的
XCOR, Virgin Galactic, Space Adventures are different company's name.
ambitious - very excite.
in the work - they are working on it.
lunar - refer to "moon".
orbital - go around to the out space.  a track circle around the outside at the layer of the earth atmosphere.　轨道的，眼窝的，眼脸的。
suborbital -  go around the outside of the layer, below the outer space.
accommodations - a place where provide people with room, food, laundry, etc. convenience for staying.
project (v) - to predict, thinking, or guessing.　重音在第二节。
entreprenant (adj) -有上进心的，大胆的，有冲劲的。
entrepreneur -　企业家，创业。
irritating (adj) -刺激的，使愤怒的，气人的，恼人的。
annoying (adj) -　令人麻烦的，讨厌的。

Chat Room:
lay / lie -放置
lay -（及物v.）放在某个面上。
lie- （不及物v.）处于休息的位置。平放，平躺，放置。
lay a book down on the table.
lying on the table.-
Perhaps you just have an extra $200,000 lying around the house.
lying around -闲置着不用，闲置着放在那里，没被使用的。
lie around -悠闲的躺着。
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atmosphere - 大气层。（固定场所的）空气，气压。
the atmosphere -加上定冠词“the” 即指“环绕地球的大气层。
Earth is outer atmosphere -地球是大气层的外壳（外层）。
atmosphere -气氛，环境。周围的状况。情况。
a tense atmosphere -紧张的气氛。
clear the air -流通空气，使空气变新鲜。意指“澄清事实，消除误会。