歐洲欲建太空"防護盾" 防範小行星撞地球大綱
Scientists are trying to find a way to protect Earth from the giant rocks which travel around the Milky Way.
科學家正試圖找到能保護地球免遭銀河系巨石撞擊的方法。
Run out of Berlin with funds from the EU, the NEOShield project, which will look for a way to protect earth from the space rocks, is expected to take three years to complete.
歐盟出資贊助的這一“小行星防護盾”項目從柏林起步，目標是尋找一種能保護地球免遭太空巨石撞擊的方法，該項目預期將耗時三年完成。
Some of the ideas being tossed around at the moment include repelling asteroids with projectiles or explosives or using gravity to change its course.
當前考慮的一些思路包括用導彈、炸藥來擊退小行星或運用地心引力來改變小行星的運行軌道。
The project though is a little late as a chunk of rock 400 times the City of London is set to hurtle closer than a rock of its size has in a very long time.
不過，這一項目開始得有點晚，因爲一塊相當於400個倫敦城的巨石正向地球逼近，而且是很長時間以來這麼大的巨石和地球最近距離的接觸。
The asteroid labelled "(433) Eros" measures 19 by 8 by 8 miles and is set to pass by next week.
這一號稱(433) Eros的小行星大小爲19*8*8英里，將於下週和地球擦肩而過。
Despite its massive size, the cosmic rock shouldn't be too cause too much of a threat as it is on a circular path far outside the moon's orbit.
儘管這一太空巨石體積很大，但應該不會對地球造成太大威脅，因爲該巨石沿着月球軌道之外距離較遠的一個圓形軌道運行。Nevertheless, with NASA estimating that there are almost one thousand asteroids over one kilometre in length and 19,500 over 100-metres, scientists at the Institute of Planetary Research are trying to find a way to protect Earth.
然而，美國宇航局估計現在銀河系約有1000顆長度超過1千米的小行星和19500顆長度超過100米的小行星，因此行星研究所的科學家們正努力探尋保護地球的辦法。
With an investment of some
