VOA常速英语2008年-India Launches Multiple Satellites Into Space

By Anjana Pasricha
New Delhi
28 April 2008

India has launched a record number of satellites into space in a single mission. The launch marks a milestone¹ for the country's space program. Anjana Pasricha reports from New Delhi, India wants to emerge as a major player in the global commercial satellite launch market.

A rocket belonging to India's space agency lifted off from the Sriharikota space station in Andhra Pradesh early Monday, putting a cluster of ten satellites into earth orbit within minutes.

Two of the satellites belong to India. These include a mini satellite, and a remote sensing satellite fitted with a high resolution camera for recording² images from space.

The data from the remote sensing satellite will be used to map infrastructure³ and natural resources in the country, and will assist planners in the country.

The eight other satellites launched are small ones built by research institutions from Europe, Canada and Japan.

The head of the space agency, G. Madhavan Nair, said the mission was successful.

"We could not detect even the slightest deviation⁴ from the designated trajectory⁵, so that shows the mission was perfect, and spacecrafts were delivered on the dot," Nair said.

Indian news reports said Monday's launch of ten satellites broke the previous record of eight satellites put into space by a Russian rocket.

Indian experts say the launch of a number of satellites in one go demonstrates that the country's space program has made technological⁶ advances and can handle multiple payloads.

India wants to win a slice of the global commercial satellite launch market, estimated to be worth billions of dollars. So far that market is controlled by countries like the United States, Russia and China and the European Space Agency.

The Indian Space Agency says its satellite launch services are much cheaper than those offered by other space agencies.

Last year, India put an Italian satellite in space for a fee of $11 million. Earlier this year, it launched an Israeli spy satellite.

India's next big leap in space exploration will come later this year, when it plans to launch a lunar mission.

1 milestone   

n.里程碑；划时代的事件

参考例句：

• The film proved to be a milestone in the history of cinema.事实证明这部影片是电影史上的一个里程碑。
• I think this is a very important milestone in the relations between our two countries.我认为这是我们两国关系中一个十分重要的里程碑。

2 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

3 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

4 deviation   

n.背离，偏离；偏差，偏向；离题

参考例句：

• Deviation from this rule are very rare.很少有违反这条规则的。
• Any deviation from the party's faith is seen as betrayal.任何对党的信仰的偏离被视作背叛。

5 trajectory   

n.弹道，轨道

参考例句：

• It is not difficult to sketch the subsequent trajectory.很容易描绘出它们最终的轨迹。
• The path followed by a projectile is called its trajectory.抛物体所循的路径称为它的轨道。

6 technological   

adj.技术的；工艺的

参考例句：

• A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.一家成功的公司必须得跟上技术变革的步伐。
• Today,the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements.当今， 随着科技进步，生活节奏不断增快。