2006年VOA标准英语-US Shuttle 'Discovery' Docks With Space Station

By Sean Maroney
Washington
12 December 2006

The American space shuttle Discovery has docked with the International Space Station, beginning a week-long mission of major renovations to the orbiting laboratory. VOA's Sean Maroney reports from Washington with details on what the U.S. National Aeronautics¹ & Space Administration says is one of the most complex missions ever.

Shuttle Discovery crew

Crews from the U.S. space shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station are preparing for Tuesday's space walk, the first of three for the current mission.

Astronauts will begin the installation of a new two-ton segment to the station's girder-like backbone². The $11 million component³ will bridge routing power, data and coolant for the space station.

Since the station went into orbit in 1998, the outpost has been running on a temporary electrical system. Lead Flight Director Tony Ceccacci says the space walk will be the first step to rewiring the station to its permanent system.

"We have seven challenging dock days ahead of us, as we go through and do both the electrical and thermal⁴ reconfiguration of the station," he explained.

The shuttle Discovery docked with the space station late Monday, after a two-day flight from Earth.

The linking of the two spacecraft was relatively⁵ uneventful. However, astronauts used the station's robotic arm to examine the shuttle's left wing where sensors⁶ detected a "minor⁷ disturbance⁸." NASA officials say they do not expect it to affect the mission.

Mission Management Team Chairman John Shannon also says managers will examine images showing an orange cellophane-like material sticking out of the shuttle's left external fuel tank door.

"I don't expect it to be a big deal," he said. "The thing we're always concerned about is if you have a tile damage that goes across a seal. And it doesn't look like it goes across a seal in any of these. It looks very shallow."

The seven Discovery crew members include Sweden's first astronaut, Christer Fuglesang, who will be one of two space walkers. Astronaut Sunita Williams is exchanging places with station crew member Thomas Reiter of Germany and will stay on the station for the next six months.

1 aeronautics   

n.航空术，航空学

参考例句：

• National Aeronautics and Space undertakings have made great progress.国家的航空航天事业有了很大的发展。
• He devoted every spare moment to aeronautics.他把他所有多余的时间用在航空学上。

2 backbone   

n.脊骨，脊柱，骨干；刚毅，骨气

参考例句：

• The Chinese people have backbone.中国人民有骨气。
• The backbone is an articulate structure.脊椎骨是一种关节相连的结构。

3 component   

n.组成部分，成分，元件；adj.组成的，合成的

参考例句：

• Each component is carefully checked before assembly.每个零件在装配前都经过仔细检查。
• Blade and handle are the component parts of a knife.刀身和刀柄是一把刀的组成部分。

4 thermal   

adj.热的，由热造成的；保暖的

参考例句：

• They will build another thermal power station.他们要另外建一座热能发电站。
• Volcanic activity has created thermal springs and boiling mud pools.火山活动产生了温泉和沸腾的泥浆池。

5 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

6 sensors   

n.传感器，灵敏元件( sensor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There were more than 2000 sensors here. 这里装有两千多个灵敏元件。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Significant changes have been noted where sensors were exposed to trichloride. 当传感器暴露在三氯化物中时，有很大变化。 来自辞典例句

7 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。

8 disturbance   

n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调

参考例句：

• He is suffering an emotional disturbance.他的情绪受到了困扰。
• You can work in here without any disturbance.在这儿你可不受任何干扰地工作。