voa标准英语2008-NASA Delays 2009 Mars Mission Due to Technical P

NASA says its next mission to check for life on Mars will have to wait two more years. In the meantime, NASA plans to continue testing its next-generation Mars rover, and it hopes to continue exploring the red planet with the help of the European Space Agency.
　

New NASA Mars Science Laboratory rover

NASA administrators² say they will launch the Mars Science Laboratory two years later than previously³ planned. The mission was supposed to send a new rover to Mars in October 2009 to study the planet's environmental history and determine if conditions are, or ever were, able to support life.

NASA administrator¹ Michael Griffin says the launch date is no longer feasible because of testing and hardware problems.

"We have determined⁴ that trying for 09 would require us to assume too much risk, more than I think is appropriate for a flagship mission like the Mars Science Laboratory," he said.

Griffin says NASA would delay the launch for just a few months if possible, but the positioning of Earth and Mars only allows for a launch every two years.

NASA Associate administrator Ed Weiler says the extra time will allow for more thorough testing and the resolution of all technical problems. Weiler says avoiding a mad-dash to launch is the best solution.

"Failure is not an option on this mission," he said. "The science is too important and the investment of American taxpayer⁵ dollars compels us to be absolutely certain that we have done everything possible to ensure the success of this flagship planetary mission."

NASA says the rover is one of the most technologically⁶ challenging missions ever. Officials say delaying the mission will cost about $400 million more, but NASA director Charles Elachi says it is necessary.

"This is a very complicated mission and Mars is a very unforgiving planet," he said. "The best thing is to focus the nest two years on really understanding the present system, testing and testing it so we are successful."

In addition to the launch in 2011, NASA officials also say they have just agreed to join the European Space Agency in planning joint⁷ Mars missions in the future. Associate Administrator Ed Weiler says working with the European Space Agency will decrease costs and help both groups advance their studies of Mars.

"We both have the same goals scientifically," he said. "We want to get our science communities together and start laying out an architecture. They have some ideas and we have some ideas. Let's work together."

Weiler says if the two agencies stop competing with each other and work together, they can both complete more advanced missions to the planet.

1 administrator   

n.经营管理者，行政官员

参考例句：

• The role of administrator absorbed much of Ben's energy.行政职务耗掉本很多精力。
• He has proved himself capable as administrator.他表现出管理才能。

2 administrators   

n.管理者( administrator的名词复数 )；有管理（或行政）才能的人；（由遗嘱检验法庭指定的）遗产管理人；奉派暂管主教教区的牧师

参考例句：

• He had administrators under him but took the crucial decisions himself. 他手下有管理人员，但重要的决策仍由他自己来做。 来自辞典例句
• Administrators have their own methods of social intercourse. 办行政的人有他们的社交方式。 来自汉英文学 - 围城

3 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

4 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

5 taxpayer   

n.纳税人

参考例句：

• The new scheme will run off with a lot of the taxpayer's money.这项新计划将用去纳税人许多钱。
• The taxpayer are unfavourably disposed towards the recent tax increase.纳税者对最近的增加税收十分反感。

6 technologically   

ad.技术上地

参考例句：

• Shanghai is a technologically advanced city. 上海是中国的一个技术先进的城市。
• Many senior managers are technologically illiterate. 许多高级经理都对技术知之甚少。

7 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。