2006年VOA标准英语-A Busy Day for Shuttle Crew

By Paul Sisco
Washington, DC
11 July 2006
 
watch Shuttle report

With most of its major tasks complete, including an investigation¹ of the protective foam² shield, the crew on board Discovery is cleared to return to Earth Monday.  Yet, there's still plenty to do. 

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Mission Specialist, Pier³ Sellers 
  
Mission managers have declared Discovery's heat shield safe for re-entry.  Discovery's crew was awakened⁴ Monday with, ”Good morning Discovery.” Mission Specialist Pier Sellers replied, "Good morning Houston, just got to the mic [microphone] in time. Thanks very much, that was beautiful."

The crew also heard these words from NASA mission control: “We deem the T.P.S. as 100 percent clear for entry.” Sellers then responded, “That is great news. That is fantastic.”

After extensive examination, NASA managers say a piece of fabric⁵ protruding⁶ from between two of the shuttle's thermal⁷ tiles does not pose a threat to a safe landing.  Those tiles shield the shuttle from the high temperatures reached during reentry.

During the past several days, the Discovery crew delivered equipment and supplies to the International Space Station, while mission specialists outside the docked craft secured a device that could accidentally cut power and video signals to the station. Then they tested an attachment⁸ to the shuttle’s robotics arm -- extending its reach to 30 meters -- that will be used for inspecting and possibly repairing hard to reach places on the shuttle's underside.

  
  
On Monday, mission specialists Mike Fossum and Piers⁹ Sellers replaced a loose cord and a pump on the space station, and moved a spare piece of equipment into stowage, while engineers on board continued unloading and packing more than two tons of trash and equipment from the station into Discovery.

On their third space walk Wednesday, Sellers and Fossum will conduct a final inspection¹⁰ of the Shuttle prior to its return to Earth Monday. 

1 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

2 foam   

v./n.泡沫，起泡沫

参考例句：

• The glass of beer was mostly foam.这杯啤酒大部分是泡沫。
• The surface of the water is full of foam.水面都是泡沫。

3 pier   

n.码头；桥墩，桥柱；[建]窗间壁，支柱

参考例句：

• The pier of the bridge has been so badly damaged that experts worry it is unable to bear weight.这座桥的桥桩破损厉害，专家担心它已不能负重。
• The ship was making towards the pier.船正驶向码头。

4 awakened   

v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到

参考例句：

• She awakened to the sound of birds singing. 她醒来听到鸟的叫声。
• The public has been awakened to the full horror of the situation. 公众完全意识到了这一状况的可怕程度。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 fabric   

n.织物，织品，布；构造，结构，组织

参考例句：

• The fabric will spot easily.这种织品很容易玷污。
• I don't like the pattern on the fabric.我不喜欢那块布料上的图案。

6 protruding   

v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的现在分词 )；凸

参考例句：

• He hung his coat on a nail protruding from the wall. 他把上衣挂在凸出墙面的一根钉子上。
• There is a protruding shelf over a fireplace. 壁炉上方有个突出的架子。 来自辞典例句

7 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。

8 attachment   

n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附

参考例句：

• She has a great attachment to her sister.她十分依恋她的姐姐。
• She's on attachment to the Ministry of Defense.她现在隶属于国防部。

9 piers   

n.水上平台( pier的名词复数 )；（常设有娱乐场所的）突堤；柱子；墙墩

参考例句：

• Most road bridges have piers rising out of the vally. 很多公路桥的桥墩是从河谷里建造起来的。 来自辞典例句
• At these piers coasters and landing-craft would be able to discharge at all states of tide. 沿岸航行的海船和登陆艇，不论潮汐如何涨落，都能在这种码头上卸载。 来自辞典例句

10 inspection   

n.检查，审查，检阅

参考例句：

• On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查，发现肉变质了。
• The soldiers lined up for their daily inspection by their officers.士兵们列队接受军官的日常检阅。