2007年VOA标准英语-S. Korea Names Astronaut for the Country's Firs

By Kurt Achin
Seoul
05 September 2007

South Korea has chosen an expert on artificial intelligence for the country's first foray into space. As VOA's Kurt Achin reports from Seoul, the new astronaut beat out tens of thousands of competitors for a flight to the International Space Station.

South Korea broke months of suspense¹ Wednesday about which of two finalists would get the first chance to travel into space.

Ko San, 05 Sept 2007

Chung Yoon, the South Korean vice² minister of science and technology, says Ko San will be the country's first astronaut.

Thirty-year-old Ko is a specialist in artificial intelligence who graduated from South Korea's prestigious³ Seoul National University. He defeated his female co-finalist, Yi Soo-yeon. Ko and Yi rose to the top from a group of more than 36,000 applicants⁴.

South Korean authorities say Ko performed better in certain experiments, and was better able to communicate with Russian cosmonauts, who will be his partners in the mission he is expected to undertake next year.

Ko is scheduled to blast off in a Russian Soyuz spacecraft next April, and to dock with the International Space Station in orbit. He will then spend about a week conducting experiments.

Both finalists are undergoing training in Russia, and were not present at Wednesday's announcement. Vice Minister Chung says even though Yi Soo-yeon did not make the top slot, she still has an important role to play. He says Yi is receiving the exact same training as Ko, even though she is not scheduled to board the spacecraft. She will serve as a consultant⁵ who helps plan the mission.

Yi will also be on standby to replace Ko, if he is somehow unable to take part in the mission.

Wednesday's astronaut selection is part of a broader, aggressive campaign by South Korea to become a player in international space research. South Korean authorities say they are almost finished building a space center they began seven years ago, at a cost of $265 million.

Next year, South Korean scientists plan to launch the country's first rocket, which will carry a satellite into orbit.

1 suspense   

n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑

参考例句：

• The suspense was unbearable.这样提心吊胆的状况实在叫人受不了。
• The director used ingenious devices to keep the audience in suspense.导演用巧妙手法引起观众的悬念。

2 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

3 prestigious   

adj.有威望的，有声望的，受尊敬的

参考例句：

• The young man graduated from a prestigious university.这个年轻人毕业于一所名牌大学。
• You may even join a prestigious magazine as a contributing editor.甚至可能会加入一个知名杂志做编辑。

4 applicants   

申请人，求职人( applicant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There were over 500 applicants for the job. 有500多人申请这份工作。
• He was impressed by the high calibre of applicants for the job. 求职人员出色的能力给他留下了深刻印象。

5 consultant   

n.顾问；会诊医师，专科医生

参考例句：

• He is a consultant on law affairs to the mayor.他是市长的一个法律顾问。
• Originally,Gar had agreed to come up as a consultant.原来，加尔只答应来充当我们的顾问。