A Chinese space mining company has designed a robot that can capture waste material left behind by spacecraft in outer space with a big net.
The state-run Xinhua news agency recently reported that the robot launched on the government's Long March 6 rocket along with several satellites. The robot will also investigate deep space to observe small objects in the universe. The 30-kilogram robot, called NEO-01 , was developed by Origin Space. Pounded in 2019 and based in the southern Chinese tech hub(技术中心)Shenzhen, Origin Space has been devoted to exploring and using space resources, according to the company. The company says the robot will lead the way for future technologies capable of mining on asteroids(小行星).
The world's first asteroid mining company, Planetary Resources, was established in 2009. Since then, more than 12 businesses around the world have entered the industry, including 3D Systems of the United States and Japan's Astroscale. Astroscale's technology uses magnets (磁铁)to gather up space waste. But a report on the Origin Space website says NEO-01 will use a net to capture waste and then bum it. Thousands of satellites have been launched worldwide. As they are used too long, many end up as waste and put other operating satellites at risk.
Su Meng is the founder of Origin Space. He said the company plans to launch many space telescopes and more spacecraft to begin the first for-profit mining of asteroids by 2045. Su added that NEO-01 will serve as a prototype (雏形)of future space mining robots, which can use rich mineral resources on asteroids to support the development of the space industry.
The Xinhua news agency reported that China was increasing efforts to land a spacecraft on a near-Earth asteroid to collect materials. China is also speeding up a plan to build a defense system against near-Earth asteroids. The country aims to follow Russia and the United States in becoming a major space power by 2030.
【小题1】Which of the following can correctly describe NEO-01?| A．It weighs 60 kilograms. |
| B．It was created by Planetary Resources. |
| C．It will be burnt after finishing its mission. |
| D．It is mainly used to catch space waste. |
| A．China will be the most powerful in space by 2030. |
| B．Origin Space will open more mines on asteroids. |
| C．It is those useless satellites that make space waste. |
| D．The robot will look into deep space for more waste. |
| A．It is promising and rewarding. | B．It has benefited the space industry. |
| C．It's a long way to produce it. | D．It'll help make money for the company. |
| A．NEO-01 , A Smart Robot Used in Space |
| B．A Chinese Robot Can Catch Space Waste |
| C．A New Robot Makes China a Space Power |
| D．NEO-01 , the Pioneer of Future Space Robots |
