Preparations Continue for Thursday Shuttle Launch

    The U.S. space agency is moving ahead with preparations for Thursday's scheduled launch of the space shuttle(航天飞机) Discovery on its mission to the International Space Station.
    NASA said it was loading liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen into the shuttle on Tuesday. The two chemical elements are used in the shuttle's three fuel cells to produce electricity and water in space and also pressurize（密封,增压） the crew's cabin.
    This is the 39th and last flight for NASA's oldest surviving shuttleDuring the 11-day flight, the six astronauts aboard the orbiter will deliver cargo¹ to the space station as well as a storage module² and a humanoid robot, Robonaut 2.  Two spacewalks are planned as well, along with science experiments.
    Discovery's flying days should have been completed by now and preparations under way for its eventual³ museum display. Its last flight was scheduled for late last year, but a hydrogen leak was discovered in the shuttle's external fuel tank.  Later, a NASA team discovered cracks in the tank.
    One NASA official said the fuel tank is now "stronger than ever."Only two shuttle flights remain after Discovery's mission ends. The shuttles Endeavour and Atlantis also are being retired⁴ this year.（本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑）

1 cargo   

n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物

参考例句：

• The ship has a cargo of about 200 ton.这条船大约有200吨的货物。
• A lot of people discharged the cargo from a ship.许多人从船上卸下货物。

2 module   

n.组件，模块，模件；(航天器的)舱

参考例句：

• The centre module displays traffic guidance information.中央模块显示交通引导信息。
• Two large tanks in the service module held liquid oxygen.服务舱的两个大气瓶中装有液态氧。

3 eventual   

adj.最后的，结局的，最终的

参考例句：

• Several schools face eventual closure.几所学校面临最终关闭。
• Both parties expressed optimism about an eventual solution.双方对问题的最终解决都表示乐观。

4 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。