摘要
第一个去土星的人整个程序，弗兰克·普尔已经走过一遍，不过他可不敢把任何事情视为理所当然——在太空里，“理所当然”可是一剂很好的自杀药方。他照例对贝蒂作一次全面检查，也检查过所有消耗品的储备量。虽然他待在外面的时间不会超过30分钟，但他还是想确认一切供给品都如常足够24小时使用。然后他告诉哈儿打开气闸，便发动喷射器，滑向太空。宇宙飞船看来和他上次出来的时候一模一样——除了一个很重要的差异之外。先前，长程天线的大碟子一直沿着“发现号”那看不见的来路，回头指向近距离绕着太阳温暖火焰而转动的地球。
Frank Poole had been through the whole routine before,but he took nothing for granted-in space that was a good recipe[处方]for suicide[自杀].He made his usual thorough check of Betty and her supply of expendables[消耗品];though he would be outside for no more than thirty minutes,he made sure that there was the normal twenty-four-hour supply of everything.Then he told Hal to open the airlock[气闸],and jetted[喷射]out into the abyss[(喻)宇宙].
