2007年VOA标准英语-Endeavour Crew Holds Classes with Future Astron

By Paul Sisco
Washington
20 August 2007
 

Student gather for a classroom lesson from Shuttle Endeavour

Twenty young students gathered at the Challenger Space Center outside Washington DC last week for a firsthand lesson in space science, all the way from the orbiting Shuttle Endeavour. Voice of America's Paul Sisco reports.

"Good morning from international space station and space shuttle Endeavour," said Astronaut Barbara Morgan speaking to students assembled at the Challenger Center for Space Science education in Virginia.

The Center was founded by families of the astronauts killed in the 1986 Challenger disaster. Elementary school teacher Christa McAuliffe was among those killed. 

Barbara Morgan is the first American teacher to return to space since the tragic² accident  -- and this was on the minds of many at Challenger Center.

June Scobee-Rodgers lost her husband on that flight. She said, "Barb¹, we have been standing³ by, waiting for your signal from space for 21 years.  These students are 'go' to ask you the questions from space … "

The young people wanted to know all about life on the shuttle: sleeping, dreaming, eating and more.

"And inside the hygiene⁴ kit⁵ we have, ah, we've got shavers.  We have toothbrushes.  We have toothpaste," said Morgan. "How do you brush your teeth in space?" one student asked.

Barbara Morgan and Alvin Drew

Morgan conducted the space-to-Earth class discussion with mission specialist Alvin Drew, who demonstrated. "Make sure you get the back corners too, and don't forget to floss."

Drew added "And when you're done you take a towel, and you spit out into a towel and then you try to dry out the towel out when you're done, because there's no sink to spit in, 'cause if there was, there wouldn't be any gravity to take it down the sink." Morgan remarked, "Al's dentist would be very proud of him."

Another student questioned "How will the experience on ISS [International Space Station] help continue and further the mission to Mars⁶?"

Drew answered, "It is a very appropriate question. Much of the research we are doing right now is trying to figure out how humans adapt to being in space. You need to understand right now we are already sending unmanned probes⁷ to Mars, and we're doing lots of science out there.  The hard part is going to be how humans can adapt and live out in space for long periods of time. How do we deal with radiation?  How do we deal with the fact that our bones don't do well, and how do we do things like recycle our resources out there like water and air and food."

With that, they wished them a great mission and safe trip home.  Quite a day for these lucky young people. In unison, the students said: “Thank you Endeavour!"

1 barb   

n.（鱼钩等的）倒钩，倒刺

参考例句：

• The barb of his wit made us wince.他那锋芒毕露的机智使我们退避三舍。
• A fish hook has a barb to prevent the fish from escaping after being hooked.鱼钩上都有一个倒钩以防上了钩的鱼逃走。

2 tragic   

adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的

参考例句：

• The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
• Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。

3 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

4 hygiene   

n.健康法，卫生学 （a.hygienic）

参考例句：

• Their course of study includes elementary hygiene and medical theory.他们的课程包括基础卫生学和医疗知识。
• He's going to give us a lecture on public hygiene.他要给我们作关于公共卫生方面的报告。

5 kit   

n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物

参考例句：

• The kit consisted of about twenty cosmetic items.整套工具包括大约20种化妆用品。
• The captain wants to inspect your kit.船长想检查你的行装。

6 Mars   

n.火星，战争

参考例句：

• As of now we don't know much about Mars.目前我们对火星还知之甚少。
• He contended that there must be life on Mars.他坚信火星上面一定有生物。

7 probes   

n.探针( probe的名词复数 )；探索；探头；探测仪v.探索，用探针（或探测器等）探查，探测( probe的第三人称单数 )；盘问；（用试探性袭击等）侦察（敌情）；用尖物刺穿（物件）

参考例句：

• Several different types of sampling probes are shown in Fig. 1-图1-1示出几种取样管。 来自辞典例句
• An array of wave probes can be used as a directional antenna. 排成阵列的测波仪，可作为波浪传播方向的感触器。 来自辞典例句