Reading：Three ways to avoid space debris from colliding with spaceships. 1. Tracking technology; 2. Spaceship shield; 3. Laser broom. Listening: The professor is against three methods: 1. Tracking technology will only track bigger debris. Small debris travel fast and collision caused them are fatal. E.g. a chip of paint from one spaceship collided with another spaceship. The small debris smashed on another spaceship’s wall and created a hole. 2. Shield method is not good too since it adds extra weight to the spaceship. We need to develop more powerful rocket to deliver the spaceship to the space. The challenge is harder for us. 3. Finally, the professor doesn’t like laser broom idea. A laser broom with such power could be used a military weapon in space, which violates the international agreement.
None of the three measures in the reading can effectively avoid space debris from colliding with spaceships. Firstly, from the perspective of the tracking technology, the professor states his doubt, because according to the lecture, tracking technology will only track bigger debris, while small debris unable to track travel fast and cause fatal collisions. For example, when a chip of paint from one spaceship collided with another spaceship, the small debris smashed on another spaceship’s wall and created a hole. Moreover, judging from the spaceship shield, the professor holds a different view, as the lecture further illustrates that shield method adds extra weight to the spaceship so that we need to develop more powerful rocket to deliver the spaceship to the space. The challenge is harder for us. Last but not least, on the point of the laser broom, the professor never fails to express his concern, because a laser broom with such power could be used as a military weapon in space, and it violates the international agreement. (169 words)
