China to Launch Manned Spacecraft

Broadcast: Jan 02 2003

 

China has announced it plans to launch its first manned spacecraft in the second half of this year to become only the third country to do so. The news comes as China's fourth unmanned space ¹⁾capsule ²⁾orbits the earth.

Chinese state media Thursday quote a senior aerospace¹ official, Yuan Jie, as saying that the Shenzhou 5 capsule will send a human being into space before the end of this year.

Mr. Yuan made his announcement upon his return from the launch of the unmanned Shenzhou 4 spacecraft.

State television carried footage of the space vehicle taking off Monday from a launch pad in the Gobi Desert.

The Shenzhou 4 capsule is now circling the earth once every 90 minutes, carrying all the systems needed for manned flight. The mission is expected to last seven days, and will test life-support capabilities² in space, among other things.

Chinese President Jiang Zemin calls the latest rocket launch a great victory, and is urging all involved in the space program to "redouble their efforts, and work in a pioneering spirit to contribute more to the peaceful development of outer space."

Mr. Jiang's comments indicate the importance Beijing attaches to its secretive space program. China views its space launches, which are not announced in advance, as symbols of national pride and greatness. The Shenzhou 4 capsule is the second launched in a year.

China launched its first unmanned Shenzhou spacecraft, whose name means "Divine³ Ship," in 1999.

If successful, the planned manned flight would make China the third country, behind only Russia and the United States, to send people into space.

Leta Hong Fincher, VOA news, Beijing.

 

1)    capsule[5kApsju:l]n. 太空舱

2)orbits[5C:bit]n. 轨道

1 aerospace   

adj.航空的，宇宙航行的

参考例句：

• The world's entire aerospace industry is feeling the chill winds of recession.全世界的航空航天工业都感受到了经济衰退的寒意。
• Edward Murphy was an aerospace engineer for the US Army.爱德华·墨菲是一名美军的航宇工程师。

2 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

3 divine   

adj.神的，上帝的，神圣的，如神的，非凡的

参考例句：

• Jesus is believed by Christians to have been divine.基督教徒们相信耶稣是神。
• The despot claimed to be the chosen instrument of divine providence.专制者声称自己是上天选定的统治工具。