Take Away English-Return to the Moon 返回月球

An astronaut stands on the surface of the Moon

Scientists in the UK have expressed their enthusiasm for China’s plans to explore the Moon with robotic spacecraft, and are keen to take part in the adventure.

British scientists are seeking to collaborate¹ with their Chinese counterparts on the Cheng’e programme. This four-phase programme could see the return of astronauts to the moon’s surface for the first time since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.

Ties between the Chinese and UK space community have been strengthened since a visit to China made by a team of British academics, agency officials, and space scientists earlier this year. At that time discussions took place regarding the UK building scientific instruments for the second phase of China’s lunar missions.

One British academic who participated in the discussions, Professor John Zarnecki of the Open University said, "I think they are looking for significant collaboration². They have got good technology themselves but they will admit that they are fairly new in space science; so they don't have all of the instrument capabilities³ and so on."

China has already established itself as the third space superpower, having successfully launched two manned spaceflights – last year two Chinese astronauts spent five days in orbit before safely returning to Earth. But China’s space ambitions don’t stop there. As well as a lunar landing, plans are being made to set up a permanent space station.

The UK, on the other hand, has had a more modest space programme. Only a handful of Britons have broken free of the Earth’s atmosphere. Most recently, UK-born astronaut, Piers⁴ Sellers, spent thirteen days on board the American space shuttle Discovery.

However, British space exploration has not always gone according to plan. The Beagle 2 probe to Mars disappeared without a trace on Christmas Day 2003.

GLOSSARY 词汇表
robotic spacecraft 机器人宇宙飞船 seeking 寻找 counterparts 相对应的人, 同仁 ties 关系, 联系 scientific instruments 科学仪器 participated 参加, 参与 manned spaceflights 载人航天 lunar landing 登陆月球 broken free 挣脱, 脱离 probe 探测	take part 参与, 参加 collaborate 合作 astronauts 宇航员 academics 学习，学术 lunar missions 月球探测使命 launched 发射 in orbit 进入轨道 space station 空间站 atmosphere 大气 disappeared without a trace 消失得无影无踪

 

1 collaborate   

vi.协作，合作；协调

参考例句：

• The work gets done more quickly when we collaborate.我们一旦合作，工作做起来就更快了。
• I would ask you to collaborate with us in this work.我们愿意请你们在这项工作中和我们合作。

2 collaboration   

n.合作，协作；勾结

参考例句：

• The two companies are working in close collaboration each other.这两家公司密切合作。
• He was shot for collaboration with the enemy.他因通敌而被枪毙了。

3 capabilities   

n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力

参考例句：

• He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities. 他有点自大，自视甚高。 来自辞典例句
• Some programmers use tabs to break complex product capabilities into smaller chunks. 一些程序员认为，标签可以将复杂的功能分为每个窗格一组简单的功能。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

4 piers   

n.水上平台( pier的名词复数 )；（常设有娱乐场所的）突堤；柱子；墙墩

参考例句：

• Most road bridges have piers rising out of the vally. 很多公路桥的桥墩是从河谷里建造起来的。 来自辞典例句
• At these piers coasters and landing-craft would be able to discharge at all states of tide. 沿岸航行的海船和登陆艇，不论潮汐如何涨落，都能在这种码头上卸载。 来自辞典例句