2006年VOA标准英语-Shuttle Astronauts Prepare for Saturday Undocki

By David McAlary
Washington
14 July 2006
 
 
Expedition 13 crewmember Jeff Williams, left , work on the Interface¹ Umbilical Assembly, the failed component² of the railcar system, with commander Steve Lindsey in the Destiny module³ of the ISS
  
Astronauts aboard the U.S. space shuttle Discovery will undertake a final inspection⁴ of the orbiter's outer surface later Friday, before undocking from the International Space Station Saturday.  They will be looking for damage that might interfere⁵ with a safe return to Earth next week.

---------

The U.S. space agency, NASA, is taking no chances, in the hope of avoiding another shuttle catastrophe⁶ like Columbia in 2003. A hole in its wing caused by launch debris⁷ led to its disintegration⁸ upon re-entry into the atmosphere, killing⁹ all seven astronauts.

Discovery's launch was closely monitored by an array of new cameras, aircraft spotters, and shuttle wing impact sensors¹⁰. A new camera and sensors at the end of its robot arm scanned the orbiter, while docked at the space station and found no surface flaws. Based on that, NASA has cleared the shuttle for a Monday re-entry.

But it plans one more wing check. Discovery's crew will use the robot arm to scan the front edges of the wings to see if tiny space rocks, or micrometeoroids, have damaged them during the flight.

Shuttle flight director Tony Ceccacci says the inspection reduces the odds¹¹ of losing a shuttle from micrometeoroid impacts.

"All the statistics have to do with your exposure time," he said.  "So, with the late inspection we mitigate¹² that concern. The big thing is that, now, you are inspecting three days before deorbit, so your exposure time gets reduced, so your probabilities get better and better."

Discovery's crew returned to work after a day of rest Thursday, transferring the big Italian-built cargo¹³ carrier it flew to the space station back into the shuttle's payload bay. Station flight director Rick LaBrode calls Discovery's visit outstanding. It brought a third crewmember to the outpost, German astronaut Thomas Reiter. LaBrode says the combined crews also hauled more new supplies and equipment into the station than any previous flight, and in less than the expected time.

"They did a great job. We worked them, we worked them. We got our money's worth out of them, that's for sure," he said.

Discovery pilot Mark Kelly told NBC television that the success of the mission means the shuttle fleet can return to its routine visits to the space station beginning next month.

"After this flight, I think we're really in a good configuration¹⁴, and we're pretty much set up to continue assembly of the space station and continue to fly the shuttle, hopefully like we did before 2003," he explained.

But mission controllers are monitoring malfunctions¹⁵ in two shuttle auxiliary¹⁶ units that supply power to hydraulic¹⁷ systems used during re-entry and landing. One problem might be a fuel leak that could present a fire hazard to the crew. The other is less serious, a broken heater for which there is a backup unit.

1 interface   

n.接合部位，分界面；v.(使)互相联系

参考例句：

• My computer has a network interface,which allows me to get to other computers.我的计算机有网络接口可以与其它计算机连在一起。
• This program has perspicuous interface and extensive application. 该程序界面明了，适用范围广。

2 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。

3 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。

4 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。

5 interfere   

v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰

参考例句：

• If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话，可能弊多利少。
• When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件，棘手的事情就来了。

6 catastrophe   

n.大灾难，大祸

参考例句：

• I owe it to you that I survived the catastrophe.亏得你我才大难不死。
• This is a catastrophe beyond human control.这是一场人类无法控制的灾难。

7 debris   

n.瓦砾堆，废墟，碎片

参考例句：

• After the bombing there was a lot of debris everywhere.轰炸之后到处瓦砾成堆。
• Bacteria sticks to food debris in the teeth,causing decay.细菌附着在牙缝中的食物残渣上，导致蛀牙。

8 disintegration   

n.分散，解体

参考例句：

• This defeat led to the disintegration of the empire.这次战败道致了帝国的瓦解。
• The incident has hastened the disintegration of the club.这一事件加速了该俱乐部的解体。

9 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

10 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

11 odds   

n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别

参考例句：

• The odds are 5 to 1 that she will win.她获胜的机会是五比一。
• Do you know the odds of winning the lottery once?你知道赢得一次彩票的几率多大吗？

12 mitigate   

vt.（使）减轻，（使）缓和

参考例句：

• The government is trying to mitigate the effects of inflation.政府正试图缓和通货膨胀的影响。
• Governments should endeavour to mitigate distress.政府应努力缓解贫困问题。

13 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。

14 configuration   

n.结构，布局，形态，(计算机)配置

参考例句：

• Geographers study the configuration of the mountains.地理学家研究山脉的地形轮廓。
• Prices range from $119 to $199,depending on the particular configuration.价格因具体配置而异，从119美元至199美元不等。

15 malfunctions   

n.故障，功能障碍（malfunction的复数形式）vi.失灵（malfunction的第三人称单数形式）

参考例句：

• The mood of defeat was as pervasive as the odor of malfunctions and decay. 失败的情绪就象损坏腐烂的臭味一样弥漫全艇。 来自辞典例句
• Possibility of engine malfunctions due to moisture, are lessened. 发动机故障的可能性，由于水分，也将减少。 来自互联网

16 auxiliary   

adj.辅助的，备用的

参考例句：

• I work in an auxiliary unit.我在一家附属单位工作。
• The hospital has an auxiliary power system in case of blackout.这家医院装有备用发电系统以防灯火管制。

17 hydraulic   

adj.水力的；水压的，液压的；水力学的

参考例句：

• The boat has no fewer than five hydraulic pumps.这艘船配有不少于5个液压泵。
• A group of apprentics were operating the hydraulic press.一群学徒正在开动水压机。