China Confident in Launch of Tiangong-1

Chinese scientists and officials are confident in the upcoming launch of its first space lab module¹ Tiangong-1. The launch time for the space module has been set.

CRI's Zhang Shuangfeng reports from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.

 
Officials revealed the launch date of the Tiangong-1 at the last press conference before the takeoff.

Wu Ping, a spokeswoman of China's manned space program, confirmed that Tiangong-1 will be launched on Thursday night, local time.

"Fuel is being injected into the Long March-2F carrier rocket in preparation for the planned launch. It is scheduled to be launched between 9:16 p.m. and 9:31 p.m. on Sept. 29th."

Wu said China remains² fully³ confident in the launch, although it is a risky⁴ scientific activity.

"Statistics show that among the more than 1,600 space launches around the world since 1990, 93.7 percent were successful, while China has successfully conducted 94.4 percent of its nearly 130 space launches."

Tiangong-1 is designed with a two-year life time and will conduct unmanned docking experiments with Shenzhou 8, which will be launched early November.

The spokesman said docking could be a challenge for China's space program.

"The rendezvous⁵ and docking is widely accepted as a technical difficulty. Not all of the docking missions are perfectly⁶ carried out, including recent ones on the International Space Station. China's first docking experiment also faces challenges. With that in mind, we have modified the carrier rocket, run simulation training on earth and made more than 200 emergency plans."

The two-moduled space lab will be large enough to accommodate three astronauts.

China is also planning to launch two spacecrafts next year to dock with Tiangong-1.

Tiangong-1 will also carry into space 300 flags of the International Astronautical Federation⁷.

For CRI, this is Shuangfeng in Jiuquan.

1 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。

2 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

3 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

4 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。

5 rendezvous   

n.约会，约会地点，汇合点；vi.汇合，集合；vt.使汇合，使在汇合地点相遇

参考例句：

• She made the rendezvous with only minutes to spare.她还差几分钟时才来赴约。
• I have a rendezvous with Peter at a restaurant on the harbour.我和彼得在海港的一个餐馆有个约会。

6 perfectly   

adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
• Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。

7 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。