VOA常速英语2007-US Space Shuttle Discovery Launches Two-Week Spa

By Brian Wagner
Miami
23 October 2007

The space shuttle Discovery has launched from Kennedy Space Center on a two-week mission to the International Space Station.  VOA's Brian Wagner reports the seven astronauts on Discovery will deliver a new module¹ to expand the size of the international orbiter.

Light rain showers cleared just hours before the late morning launch of Discovery from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. 

NASA spokesman George Diller monitored the launch sequence of Discovery, which carried seven astronauts and the Harmony module toward the International Space Station.

DILLER:  "We have a go for main engine start. T-minus five, four, three, two, one. Booster ignition and liftoff of Discovery, hoisting² Harmony to the heavens and opening new gateways³ for international science.  Discovery has cleared the tower."

Earlier, NASA officials said they were monitoring a buildup of ice on a pipe that sends super-cold liquid hydrogen from the external fuel tank to the shuttle's main engines.  Engineers said the ice was a possible concern, because it could cause debris⁴ to break off during launch and collide with the shuttle.

Foam⁵ debris caused damage to the wing of shuttle Columbia in 2003, which caused the orbiter to break up during re-entry, killing⁶ all seven astronauts on board.  The shuttle Endeavour also was damaged by foam debris during launch in August, but landed safely.

Discovery's commander Pamela Melroy is leading the seven-member crew on what officials say will be one of the most difficult missions in the shuttle program's history.  Astronauts are to perform five spacewalks to attach the new module to the International Space Station and practice shuttle repair techniques.

The Italian-built Harmony module is one of several that international partners plan to install to double the interior capacity of the station for astronauts to live and work in space.  A European-built laboratory is to be delivered to the station as early as December.

The Discovery crew is scheduled to return to Earth on November 6.

1 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。

2 hoisting   

起重，提升

参考例句：

• The hoisting capacity of that gin pole (girder pole, guy derrick) is sixty tons. 那个起重抱杆（格状抱杆、转盘抱杆）的起重能力为60吨。 来自口语例句
• We must use mechanical hoisting to load the goods. 我们必须用起重机来装载货物。

3 gateways   

n.网关( gateway的名词复数 )；门径；方法；大门口

参考例句：

• Police bullets raked the gateways car. 警察的子弹对着门口的汽车扫射。 来自辞典例句
• No Internet gateways are needed for the programs operation. 该软件的操作不需要互联网网关的支持。 来自互联网

4 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。

5 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。

6 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。