国家地理-2008-04-10 Women in Space 太空女性

In 1983, trailblazing astronaut Sally Ride blasted out of Earth's orbit, opening the world of space travel for women. Watch the stories of other pioneers who have followed her path to the stars.

Since the US space program began in 1958, NASA has achieved much in the realm of space exploration. From lunar landings to voyages into the depth of our solar system, NASA has built a storied history.

In the early days, space was a men's world. All that changed on June 18, 1983, when Sally Ride became the first American woman to rocket toward the heavens aboard the space shuttle Challenger. A Doctor of Physics, she was recruited by NASA as one of six female astronaut candidates for the shuttle program. While her first job was as a mission control communicator to orbiting shuttles, Sally Ride soon found herself in orbit during 1983's STS-7 mission. And although the Russian space program had sent women into space as early as 1963, Ride's journey into space was a first ever for the US. Aboard the shuttle Challenger, she served as a mission specialist, helping¹ deploy² two satellites and perform scientific experiments over six days. Shortly after her return, Ride reflected on what her journey into space meant.

“That I was asked at a press conference just before our flight what I thought about being the first US woman astronaut, I was quoted to say that it was no big deal. What the astronaut meant to say was that, technically³, as far as NASA's concerned it, was no big deal. On another level, the United States' sending a woman into space was a very important event for at least 53% of the population and I'm very proud of that.”

Sally Ride re-adventured into space once more in 1984. And since that time others have become trailblazers as well. Physician-turned astronaut, Mae Jemison became the first African American woman in space during shuttle Endeavour's 1992 mission. During orbit, she performed experiments involving life sciences, material sciences, and bone cell research. In 1990, Astronaut Eileen Collins became the first female shuttle pilot aboard Discovery. Collins commanded two space shuttle missions including the important return to flight mission in July 2005, the first after the 2003 Columbia disaster. Since Sally Ride’s momentous⁴ flight into space, the ranks of female astronauts have grown. And in a male-dominated field, they hold a special position as role models for young women everywhere who dream of reaching the stars.  

1 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

2 deploy   

v.（军）散开成战斗队形，布置，展开

参考例句：

• The infantry began to deploy at dawn.步兵黎明时开始进入战斗位置。
• The president said he had no intention of deploying ground troops.总统称并不打算部署地面部队。

3 technically   

adv.专门地，技术上地

参考例句：

• Technically it is the most advanced equipment ever.从技术上说，这是最先进的设备。
• The tomato is technically a fruit,although it is eaten as a vegetable.严格地说，西红柿是一种水果，尽管它是当作蔬菜吃的。

4 momentous   

adj.重要的，重大的

参考例句：

• I am deeply honoured to be invited to this momentous occasion.能应邀出席如此重要的场合，我深感荣幸。
• The momentous news was that war had begun.重大的新闻是战争已经开始。