VOA常速英语2007年-NASA Astronauts Successfully Repair Space Stati

By Margaret Besheer
Washington
03 November 2007

NASA astronauts have successfully repaired a damaged solar wing at the International Space Station. The operation was completed Saturday, after being postponed¹ twice so engineers could further study how to accomplish the risky² mission, which posed the danger of electrocuting the astronaut doing the repairs.  From Washington, VOA's Margaret Besheer has more.

Astronaut Scott Parazynski, an experienced spacewalker, performed the repairs on the torn solar wing outside the International Space Station. He was assisted by Astronaut Doug Wheelock who was positioned at the base of the solar wing and offered guidance.

NASA said repairing the wing was a top priority because the solar panel is necessary for powering equipment for future space missions.

Parazynski rode the station's robotic arm up to the damaged area of the wing on the farthest end of the Space Station.  Once in place he took on the dangerous and difficult task of repairing the damaged panel.  The solar panel captures sunlight to generate electricity and is alive with more than 100 volts³ of power that engineers cannot turn off.

To protect him from possible electrocution, the metal parts of his spacesuit and all his tools were wrapped in multiple layers of insulating tape.

Parazynski wore a camera mounted on his helmet, which streamed live video back to the Space Station and to Mission Control in Houston, Texas, allowing others to help guide him.

CONTROLLER: "Just confirm, you are going to cut below the vice⁴ grips?"
PARAZYNSKI: "Below the vice grips, in the works."
CONTROLLER 2: "Does he have a go?"
CONTROLLER:  "You have a go."
PARAZYNSKI: "Here it comes: three, two, one… snip⁵!"

The repair mission took more than seven hours, during which Parazynski installed homemade braces⁶ on the torn wing and clipped the twisted wires that had ripped it in two places when the 35-meter long solar wing was being unrolled Tuesday. 

The astronauts then returned safely to the Space Station.

The Space Shuttle Discovery is due to complete its two-week mission and undock with the Space Station on Monday. The shuttle is expected to return to Earth on Wednesday.

1 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。

2 risky   

adj.有风险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• It may be risky but we will chance it anyhow.这可能有危险，但我们无论如何要冒一冒险。
• He is well aware how risky this investment is.他心里对这项投资的风险十分清楚。

3 volts   

n.（电压单位）伏特( volt的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The floating potential, Vf is usually only a few volts below ground. 浮置电势Vf通常只低于接地电位几伏。 来自辞典例句
• If gamma particles are present, potential differences of several thousand volts can be generated. 如果存在γ粒子，可能产生几千伏的电位差。 来自辞典例句

4 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

5 snip   

n.便宜货，廉价货，剪，剪断

参考例句：

• He has now begun to snip away at the piece of paper.现在他已经开始剪这张纸。
• The beautifully made briefcase is a snip at £74.25.这个做工精美的公文包售价才74.25英镑，可谓物美价廉。

6 braces   

n.吊带，背带；托架( brace的名词复数 )；箍子；括弧；（儿童）牙箍v.支住( brace的第三人称单数 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来

参考例句：

• The table is shaky because the braces are loose. 这张桌子摇摇晃晃，因为支架全松了。
• You don't need braces if you're wearing a belt! 要系腰带，就用不着吊带了。