VOA常速英语2008年-Astronauts Opening Space Station Research Lab

By VOA News
12 February 2008
 

Astronauts from the space shuttle Atlantis are formally opening the new laboratory at the International Space Station Tuesday.

Crew members set up electrical and data lines linking the new Columbus laboratory to the station before European astronaut Leopold Eyharts briefly¹ floated inside the module² for the first time.

The crew also prepared for a second spacewalk to perform additional work on the lab Wednesday.

Also today, officials for the U.S. space agency NASA told the shuttle crewmembers they would not have to repair a loose thermal³ blanket near the shuttle's tail, saying the blanket does not pose a flight safety issue.

Astronauts conducted their first spacewalk of the current mission Monday to install the European research laboratory.

Astronauts Rex Walheim and Stanley Love anchored the $2 billion Columbus module with help from crewmates inside the space station.

The Columbus laboratory will be used for a wide variety of experiments, including research on the impact of space travel on humans.

1 briefly   

adv.简单地，简短地

参考例句：

• I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.我想简单地谈一下这个问题的另一方面。
• He was kidnapped and briefly detained by a terrorist group.他被一个恐怖组织绑架并短暂拘禁。

2 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。

3 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。