1、Famous physicist Stephen Hawking has made the first move towards his desire to go into space - being given the opportunity to experience zero gravity.

　　4月26日，英国著名物理学家斯蒂芬·霍金完成了体验太空之旅的夙愿。他在大西洋上空体验了“零重力”飞行并安全返回。

2、Professor Hawking took a flight on a specially adapted Boeing 727.

　　26日，霍金来到美国佛罗里达州肯尼迪航天中心，被医护人员搬到一架由波音727客机改装成的“重力一号”飞机上。


3、The plane carried out eight 'parabolic plunges', carving huge arcs in the sky which created the sense of weightlessness for periods of 25 seconds. People as well as apples were able to float into the air.

　　这是霍金近40年来第一次离开轮椅行动。飞机升至高空后完成8次抛物线式俯冲，乘客能在每次俯冲时经历25秒的失重状态体验。机舱里的霍金和苹果都飘了起来。


4、After each plunge ended, Professor Hawking was gently helped back down onto a mattress.

　　每次失重状态结束后，霍金都会被工作人员小心翼翼地搬回到大垫子上。

5、He said afterwards: "It was amazing. ... I could have gone on and on. Space, here I com."

　　事后霍金表示：“这真是太神奇了，我可以飞起来一次又一次。太空，我来了。”

6、Professor Hawking's desire to go into space could eventually be realised.Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson has agreed to "fix it" for him to fly on his Virgin Galactic sub-orbiter, which could begin giving rides to paying passengers as early as 2009.

　　步入太空是霍金的梦想，现在他的这一梦想有望实现。致力于航空探索事业的英国维金公司答应会尽量在2009年前帮助霍金实现太空梦想。

　　（霍金是世界公认的顶级理论物理学家，青年时被诊断出患有“肌肉萎缩性脊髓侧索硬化症”，不久后全身瘫痪，只有眼睛、眉毛和嘴边的肌肉能勉强活动。）