VOA常速英语2008年-Shuttle Lands After Record Space Station Missio

By Brian Wagner
Miami
27 March 2008
 

The Endeavour has landed, after completing the longest space shuttle mission to the International Space Station. VOA's Brian Wagner has this report.

The seven-member crew of Endeavour returned to Earth more than two weeks after lifting off to complete a series of construction tasks at the space station.

Endeavour's Commander Dominic Gorie piloted the shuttle to the runway at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida during a rare night-time landing. After touching¹ down, he thanked NASA engineers and officials for their support during the mission.

"It was a super rewarding mission, exciting from the start to the ending," he said. "Thank you for all the help."

NASA officials said the shuttle crew set a record by spending nearly 12 days docked to the space station. Astronauts performed five space walks, including maneuvers² to install a Canadian-built robotic arm system and the first component³ of a Japanese science laboratory. They also tested a new technique for repairing the shuttle's heat shield, should it be damaged during launch.

NASA officials say construction on the space station is now 70 percent complete and that it will be finished by 2010. The next shuttle flight is scheduled for May, when Discovery will deliver another component for the Japanese Kibo space module⁴.

1 touching   

adj.动人的，使人感伤的

参考例句：

• It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
• His letter was touching.他的信很感人。

2 maneuvers   

n.策略，谋略，花招( maneuver的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He suspected at once that she had been spying upon his maneuvers. 他立刻猜想到，她已经侦察到他的行动。 来自辞典例句
• Maneuvers in Guizhou occupied the Reds for four months. 贵州境内的作战占了红军四个月的时间。 来自辞典例句

3 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。

4 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。