Tiangong-1 to Be Launched by Month End

China is poised¹ to launch the prototype of its first space lab Tiangong-1 by the end of this month.

A senior official at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the northwestern Gansu Province has revealed that the space module² will be launched either on September 29th or the 30th.

CRI's Shuangfeng reports from Jiuquan.

 
The Tiangong-1 unmanned space lab was previously³ scheduled for launch on September 27th at the earliest.

Cui Jijun, Director of the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, says the launch has been rescheduled for the 29th or 30th because of adverse⁴ weather conditions.

"Everything is ready now except for the right weather. The weather conditions on the 27th and the 28th are not favorable for the launch, so we have decided⁵ to put it off to sometime between the 29th and the 30th. It's ready to launch. But it will not be irreversible until the rocket is fuelled. So we still have much leeway with picking the final date for the launch."

The final preparations for the launch are under way in Jiuquan, which is on the border between Gansu Province and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous⁶ Region.

Cui Jijun also said that scientists will carry out a thorough examination of the Long March 2F carrier rocket before the launch.

"At this stage, we will carry out a thorough examination of the carrier rocket and the launch pad. So far, a power-on test of the space module has been completed. We are now getting ready to fuel the rocket."

A public relations official at the launch site said fuel loading usually begins one day before the launch.

The 8.5-ton Tiangong I space lab has a two-year lifetime. It will carry out two docking tests with the unmanned Shenzhou-8 spacecraft, which China plans to launch in early November.

The carrier rocket for the Shenzhou 8 spacecraft has also arrived at the launch center.

Tiangong I will carry out a series of scientific experiments in space.

The space lab is expected to perform two manned docking missions with the Shenzhou 9 and 10, which will be launched during the next two years.

The spacecraft rendezvous⁷ and docking missions are expected to pave the way for the building of a planned space station scheduled for 2020.

For CRI, this is Shuangfeng in Jiuquan.

1 poised   

a.摆好姿势不动的

参考例句：

• The hawk poised in mid-air ready to swoop. 老鹰在半空中盘旋，准备俯冲。
• Tina was tense, her hand poised over the telephone. 蒂娜心情紧张，手悬在电话机上。

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 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

4 adverse   

adj.不利的；有害的；敌对的，不友好的

参考例句：

• He is adverse to going abroad.他反对出国。
• The improper use of medicine could lead to severe adverse reactions.用药不当会产生严重的不良反应。

5 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

6 autonomous   

adj.自治的；独立的

参考例句：

• They proudly declared themselves part of a new autonomous province.他们自豪地宣布成为新自治省的一部分。
• This is a matter that comes within the jurisdiction of the autonomous region.这件事是属于自治区权限以内的事务。

7 rendezvous   

n.约会，约会地点，汇合点；vi.汇合，集合；vt.使汇合，使在汇合地点相遇

参考例句：

• She made the rendezvous with only minutes to spare.她还差几分钟时才来赴约。
• I have a rendezvous with Peter at a restaurant on the harbour.我和彼得在海港的一个餐馆有个约会。