A NASA astronaut salutes in this photo taken in outer space. CFP
1969年，全球约有6亿人观看了史上最著名的航天任务。
As US astronaut and NASA employee Neil Armstrong stepped onto the surface of the moon, he said the iconic line, “One small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind”.
美国宇航员尼尔·阿姆斯特朗在踏上月球表面时，说了一句经典名言：“这是我个人的一小步，却是全人类的一大步”。
Since then, NASA has been responsible for many giant leaps of its own － more than most of us realize.
从那时起，美国宇航局便实现了许多重大飞跃 —— 比我们大多数人知道的还要多。
This year marks the 60th anniversary of NASA’s founding in 1958.
美国宇航局成立于1958年，今年是其成立60周年纪念。
To most of us, NASA is simply a name that’s linked with rocket launches and trips to space.
对于我们大部分人而言，美国宇航局只是个与火箭发射、太空旅行有关联的名字。
However, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration is to thank for many everyday things that we don’t give much thought to.
然而，美国宇航局对许多日常事物也做出了贡献，只是我们很少考虑到这点罢了。
Take mobile phones for example.
拿手机来举个例子。
Most of us don’t know that NASA invented the technology behind the cameras found in modern phones.
我们大多数人都不知道美国宇航局发明了在现代电话中安装相机的技术。
Thanks to research by NASA scientists who were looking for ways to create small cameras to fit onto spacecraft, we’re able to take selfies today.
美国宇航局的科学家们为了制造出能安装在宇宙飞船上的微型相机，进行了一系列的研究。得益于此，我们如今也能自拍了。
The agency’s creativity has led to the creation of many other great inventions, including the computer mouse, laptop computer, baby formula, and even sneakers.
该机构的创造力也促使了不少其他伟大发明的诞生，如鼠标、笔记本电脑、婴儿奶粉、甚至运动鞋等。
Indeed, NASA stands by its motto, “For the Benefit of All”.
美国宇航局的确践行着自己的座右铭：“造福全人类”。
But while these things have brought convenience and improvements to our planet, let’s not forget NASA’s main purpose: to explore what’s outside of Earth.
尽管这些创造为我们的星球带来了改进和便利，但也别忘了美国宇航局的主要目标：探索地球之外的事物。
From the Space Shuttle Program, which sent over 300 astronauts into space between 1972 and 2011, to the James Webb Space Telescope, a new telescope that will allow us to see deeper into the universe, NASA is making greater and greater steps into understanding space as each day goes by.
从航天飞机计划在1972-2011年间将300多名宇航员送上太空，到新型的詹姆斯·韦伯太空望远镜让我们能够看到宇宙的更深处， 美国宇航局一直在不断向前迈进，对宇宙的了解也日益深入。
“NASA’s achievements write a glorious chapter in human history, one that’s nearly impossible to overstate,” wrote Tony Long on tech site Wired.
“可以毫不夸张地说，美国宇航局的成就是人类历史上辉煌的一章，”托尼·朗在科技杂志《连线》网站上写道。
As NASA’s anniversary approaches, it’s exciting to imagine what the next 60 years will bring.
随着美国宇航局 60周年纪念的临近，畅想下一个60年会带来什么样的变化也激动人心。
Will our generation witness the first human on Mars, as our parents’ generation saw the first human on the moon?
我们这一代人能见证人类首次登上火星吗？就像我们父母那代人见证人类首次登月那样？
We can only wait and see.
就让我们拭目以待吧。
