VOA标准英语2010年-Astronaut Twins Rendezvous in Space

Like most twins, Scott Kelly says he and his brother, Mark, shared a lot as kids, even taking the same part-time jobs in high school.

"When we were 17 years old we worked for the same ambulance company. I think that at one point we even made pizzas together probably when we were about 15."

Mark Kelly adds that the two also embarked¹ on parallel careers.

"We both became pilots in the navy flying off of aircraft carriers. I flew the A-6 Intruder; Scott, the F-14 Tom Cat and later became test pilots and a lot of test pilots become interested in the space program."

They both began astronaut training in 1996. Since then the men have made multiple space flights, but never together.

NASA's twin brother astronauts are scheduled to meet up at the International Space Station.

That will change early next year when the two astronauts rendezvous² at the International Space Station. Scott will be in command when Mark docks aboard a supply mission on the Space Shuttle Endeavor.

Scott says beyond the publicity³ surrounding their flights - with all those references to the Gemini twins of the ancient Zodiac signs, the brothers know there's work to be done.

"Our focus is completing this mission, doing it successfully. We understand this is a human interest story, but you know our primary focus is doing the job and getting home safely."

The February mission marks the end of NASA's Space Shuttle program.

Endeavor Commander Mark Kelly [bottom center] with crewmates, will make the 36th and perhaps final mission to the International Space Station.

While some critics warn that its shutdown could pose access and supply problems for the International Space Station, Endeavor commander Mark Kelly says it's time for the Space Agency to retire the shuttle and chart new directions.

"The shuttle was designed to build a space station and after STS-134, the International Space station will be complete. It has really done its job," he says. "And in order for us to build a new class of rockets and a new spacecraft and to do other things, we are going to have to retire the space shuttle."

Scott and Mark Kelly say their work in space has been a privilege and both feel it's been an honor to serve their country through the space program. They say their numerous trips to earth orbit have given them a new perspective on the planet.

Scott says, when he looks down on earth from space, political borders disappear. "It makes an impression on you that we are all part of planet earth."

Mark agrees. "The atmosphere is a little sliver⁴ that is pretty thin and fragile. You think about what we all need to do to protect it."

When the Kelly twins finally do meet in space next year, crewmembers are not likely to have any problem telling the two identically bald-headed brothers apart. Mark says he'll still be wearing his signature mustache.

 

1 embarked   

乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事

参考例句：

• We stood on the pier and watched as they embarked. 我们站在突码头上目送他们登船。
• She embarked on a discourse about the town's origins. 她开始讲本市的起源。

2 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。

3 publicity   

n.众所周知，闻名；宣传，广告

参考例句：

• The singer star's marriage got a lot of publicity.这位歌星的婚事引起了公众的关注。
• He dismissed the event as just a publicity gimmick.他不理会这件事，只当它是一种宣传手法。

4 sliver   

n.裂片，细片，梳毛；v.纵切，切成长片，剖开

参考例句：

• There was only one sliver of light in the darkness.黑暗中只有一点零星的光亮。
• Then,one night,Monica saw a thin sliver of the moon reappear.之后的一天晚上，莫尼卡看到了一个月牙。