2006年VOA标准英语-Space Shuttle Atlantis Finally Blasts Off for C

By Richard Green
Washington
09 September 2006

Cape1 Canaveral, Sept. 9, 2006 (NASA TV) " src="/upimg/allimg/070418/1442140.jpg" width="210" border="0" /> The Space Shuttle Atlantis lifts off launch Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Sept. 9, 2006 (NASA TV)

Officials with the U.S. space agency NASA say the space shuttle Atlantis appears to have escaped any damage from falling debris² from its external fuel tank during Saturday's launch. The flight was postponed³ for nearly two weeks due to inclement⁴ weather and technical problems.

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With just minutes left of the official countdown in the launch of the space shuttle Atlantis from the Kennedy Space Center (K.S.C) in Florida, flight controllers with the U.S. space agency NASA gave the seven-member crew the good news they had been waiting for.

"Atlantis, OTC, it's been a long road, with a lot of detours⁵ but your patience is about to be rewarded -- it's time to fly," said mission control.

Moments later, Atlantis blasted into the blue sky to the jubilation⁶ of spectators and NASA officials.

The crew will arrive at the International Space Station on Monday. It is carrying a new 17-ton segment for the orbital outpost that contains a new set of giant solar energy panels. Three crewmembers will conduct three crucial spacewalks to attach the new segment.

This mission was originally scheduled for 2003, but was put on hold after the space shuttle Columbia disaster that year. NASA is hoping to finish construction of the International Space Station before the space shuttle fleet is retired⁷ in 2010.

Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator⁸ for NASA, says the space shuttle program is heading into the most exciting and challenging phase of its 25-year history. "We got a lot of work to do, we got a lot of things to put in place...then we're going to work with our partners to get their modules⁹ up and do a lot of activities on board station. I don't look at it as this is approaching the end. This is probably one of the best times we've ever had to really be in a posture¹⁰ to learn and to jumpstart the next program that begins," he said.

Saturday's launch ended a string of postponements stretching back to late August. It was delayed twice because of bad weather, and twice due to technical problems.

The U.S. space shuttle Atlantis has reached orbit, after a successful launch following nearly two weeks of delays.

The shuttle was launched Saturday on a mission to the International Space Station. If weather or technical problems had prevented today's launch, the space agency, NASA, would have faced a delay of several weeks, because a Russian mission to the station is planned for later this month.

Astronauts on Atlantis plan to attach a new set of solar energy panels to the space station to help generate power. Those panels will reach 80 meters in length when fully¹¹ unfurled.

Construction on the space station was halted after the shuttle Columbia disaster in February 2003 forced a long moratorium¹² on shuttle flights. Columbia broke up on re-entry to the earth's atmosphere, killing¹³ all seven astronauts on board.

1 cape   

n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风

参考例句：

• I long for a trip to the Cape of Good Hope.我渴望到好望角去旅行。
• She was wearing a cape over her dress.她在外套上披着一件披肩。

2 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。

3 postponed   

vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发）

参考例句：

• The trial was postponed indefinitely. 审讯无限期延迟。
• The game has already been postponed three times. 这场比赛已经三度延期了。

4 inclement   

adj.严酷的，严厉的，恶劣的

参考例句：

• The inclement weather brought forth a host of diseases.恶劣的天气引起了种种疾病。
• They kept on going,even through the inclement weather.即使天气恶劣，他们还是执意要去。

5 detours   

绕行的路( detour的名词复数 )； 绕道，兜圈子

参考例句：

• Local wars and bandits often blocked their travel, making countless detours necessary. 内战和盗匪也常阻挡他们前进，迫使他们绕了无数弯路。
• Could it be that all these detours had brought them to Moshi Pass? 难道绕来绕去，绕到磨石口来了吗？ 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子

6 jubilation   

n.欢庆，喜悦

参考例句：

• The goal was greeted by jubilation from the home fans.主场球迷为进球欢呼。
• The whole city was a scene of jubilation.全市一片欢腾。

7 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。

8 administrator   

n.经营管理者，行政官员

参考例句：

• The role of administrator absorbed much of Ben's energy.行政职务耗掉本很多精力。
• He has proved himself capable as administrator.他表现出管理才能。

9 modules   

n.模块( module的名词复数 )；单元；（宇宙飞船上各个独立的）舱；组件

参考例句：

• The course consists of ten core modules and five optional modules. 这门课程包括十个必修单元和五个选修单元。
• Our English course is divided into modules on poetry, drama, and novels. 我们的英语课分为诗歌、戏剧和小说等单元。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 posture   

n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势

参考例句：

• The government adopted an uncompromising posture on the issue of independence.政府在独立这一问题上采取了毫不妥协的态度。
• He tore off his coat and assumed a fighting posture.他脱掉上衣，摆出一副打架的架势。

11 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

12 moratorium   

n.(行动、活动的)暂停(期)，延期偿付

参考例句：

• The government has called for a moratorium on weapons testing.政府已要求暂停武器试验。
• We recommended a moratorium on two particular kinds of experiments.我们建议暂禁两种特殊的实验。

13 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。