太空垃圾惹議
Russia carried out an anti-satellite weapon test and destroyed one of its own satellites.
俄羅斯最近試射反衛星武器並擊毀了該國的其中一個衛星。
destroy(v.)摧毀;毀滅
As it turned out, the satellite shattered and scattered into space after it exploded.
不料衛星爆炸後裂成碎片飄散在太空中。
shatter(v.)粉碎;破碎scatter(v.)(使)分散;驅散explode(v.)爆炸
The missile launched by Russia blasted a cloud of debris into the Earth’s orbit, forcing astronauts aboard the International Space Station to take shelter in the capsules attached to the station for up to two hours.
俄羅斯試射飛彈在地球軌道附近炸出大量碎片，迫使國際太空站的太空人得在對接的太空艙內緊急避難長達兩小時。
launch(v.)發射force sb. to do sth.=迫使某人做某事take shelter=避難
1,500 pieces of the debris are big enough to track, with smaller fragments looping around the Earth.
1,500片的碎片垃圾大到能被雷達追蹤，而地球周圍同時也飄散著較小的碎片。
track(v.)追蹤fragment(n.)碎片loop(v.)纏繞;圍繞
Since the pieces in space travel at several kilometers per second, it is enough for them to become damaging projectiles if any were to collide with an operational space mission.
由於太空中的殘骸以每秒數公里的時速飄移，若撞向尚在運作的太空裝置，其破壞力足以將之整個射穿。
projectile(n.)子彈;炮彈collide(v.)相撞;碰撞
As such, the space junk is likely to pose a threat to orbital stations, spacecrafts and satellites in low-Earth orbit.
因此，這些太空垃圾可能危及太空站、太空船以及低軌道的衛星。
pose a threat to...=對...構成威脅
Russia’s action sparked international outrage, but the country denied that it put any spacecraft or astronauts in danger.
儘管俄羅斯的行為激起國際撻伐，但該國否認對任何太空船或太空人造成危險。
spark outrage=激起憤慨deny(v.)否認;否定put sb. in danger=使某人處於危險之中
The US Department of State condemned Russia for conducting a destructive satellite test, saying that the reckless act will significantly increase the risk to astronauts on a space mission as well as other human spaceflight activities.
美國國務院譴責俄羅斯進行毀滅性的試驗，直指其魯莽行徑大大危及在太空執勤的太空人以及其他人類太空飛行任務。
condemn(v.)譴責risk(n.)風險reckless(adj.)魯莽的;不顧後果的;輕率的