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The European Space Agency (ESA) is reportedly in talks with America’s SpaceX to cooperate in efforts to reduce the growing amount of space junk.
据报道，欧洲航天局（ESA）正在与美国的SpaceX进行谈判，合作减少日益增多的太空垃圾。
The talks, reported by Reuters news agency, aim to get the California-based space company to join an international agreement that pushes for policies to fight space debris.
据路透社报道，这次会谈的目的是让这家总部位于加州的太空公司加入一项推动解决太空碎片政策的国际协议。
It has been estimated that SpaceX satellites represent about two-thirds of spacecraft currently in low-Earth orbit.
据估计，目前在近地轨道运行的航天器中，SpaceX的卫星约占三分之二。
Space debris is anything that humans have put into space that is no longer in use.
太空碎片是指人类送入太空的任何不再使用的东西。
This could include satellites, equipment, parts of rockets or spacecraft.
这可能包括卫星、设备、火箭或航天器的部件。
Space junk orbits hundreds of kilometers above Earth.
太空垃圾在地球上空数百公里的轨道上运行。
It can circle Earth at speeds of about 25,000 kilometers per hour in low-Earth orbit.
它可以在近地轨道上以每小时25000公里的速度绕地球运行。
And it can cause major damage if it hits a space station, satellite or spacecraft.
如果它击中空间站、卫星或宇宙飞船，会造成重大破坏。
The International agreement that ESA wants SpaceX to join is called the Zero Debris Charter.
欧空局希望SpaceX加入的国际协议被称为《零碎片宪章》。
It seeks to stop any new orbital junk from being created by 2030.
它试图在2030年之前阻止产生任何新的轨道垃圾。
The 22 members of ESA have been seeking new members to join the agreement since the agency announced it in 2023.
自该机构于2023年宣布该协议以来，欧空局的22个成员国一直在寻求让新成员加入该协议。
ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher told Reuters that more than 100 countries and organizations have so far joined the agreement.
欧空局局长约瑟夫·阿什巴赫对路透社表示，目前已有100多个国家和组织加入了该协议。
When asked about SpaceX’s possible involvement, Aschbacher said ESA was “in discussion” with the company to possibly sign up.
当被问及SpaceX可能参与的问题时，阿什巴赫表示，欧洲航天局正在与该公司“讨论”签约的可能性。
Aschbacher did not provide further details.
阿什巴赫没有提供进一步的细节。
But he said that work on the charter is moving forward, and ESA is continually raising the issue of space junk with nations and organizations.
但他说，制定宪章的工作正在向前推进，欧洲航天局正在不断向各国和各组织提出太空垃圾问题。
Reuters reported that SpaceX did not respond to a request for comment on the matter.
据路透社报道，SpaceX没有回应就此事发表评论的请求。
The news agency said that out of about 10,300 active satellites in space, an estimated 6,300 are part of SpaceX’s fast-growing Starlink internet service system.
该通讯社表示，在太空中大约10300颗活跃的卫星中，估计有6300颗是SpaceX快速增长的星链互联网服务系统的一部分。
Reuters said that information came from the U.S. Space Force.
路透社表示，这一消息来自美国太空部队。
Other organizations and nations are also launching their own large satellite collections.
其他组织和国家也在发射自己的大型卫星。
China has done so in an attempt to compete with SpaceX, Reuters reported.
据路透社报道，中国这样做是为了与SpaceX竞争。
In addition, American-based Amazon expects to launch more than 3,000 satellites for its Kuiper internet service over the next 10 years.
此外，总部位于美国的亚马逊预计将在未来10年内为其柯伊伯互联网服务发射3000多颗卫星。
Jonathan McDowell is a Harvard University astronomer who follows such objects.
乔纳森·麦克道尔是哈佛大学的天文学家，专门研究这类天体。
He has estimated there are nearly 19,000 pieces of trackable space junk in orbit.
他估计，轨道上有近1.9万件可追踪的太空垃圾。
McDowell said he thinks it is important to have members of industry publicly support this kind of charter.
麦克道尔说，他认为让行业成员公开支持这种章程是很重要的。
"So, I'm glad to know SpaceX is considering it," he said.
“所以，我很高兴知道SpaceX正在考虑加入事宜，”他说。
There are no international laws on space debris.
目前还没有关于空间碎片的国际法律。
But in recent years countries have begun to create plans and national rules for fighting the problem.
但近年来，各国已经开始制定计划和国家规则来应对这一问题。
"We are not a regulatory body; we are a technical space agency," Aschbacher said.
“我们不是监管机构；我们是一个技术太空机构，”阿什巴赫说。
"But the fact that we have put the charter around the table, which was elaborated with all the other partners, and that they signed up to it is very encouraging," he added.
他说：“但事实上，我们已经把宪章摆到了桌面上，它是与所有其他伙伴共同制定的，而且他们都签署了宪章，这非常鼓舞人心。”
I’m Bryan Lynn.
布莱恩·林恩报道。
