VOA标准英语2009年-Shuttle Discovery Set to launch Tuesday

Space shuttle Discovery is preparing to launch on a mission to deliver new supplies and science equipment to the International Space Station.
　
Birds fly past space shuttle Discovery at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape¹ Canaveral, Fla., 24 Aug 2009

The Discovery crew is set to launch shortly early Tuesday to deliver nearly 8,000 kilograms of equipment to the International Space Station. NASA engineers cleared the shuttle to fly on Sunday, after deciding there were no technical concerns to delay launch from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Shuttle weather officer Kathy Winters said the skies should be clear for the evening launch, but storms could delay the delicate process of filling the shuttle's external fuel tanks.

"Overall the weather is looking good for launch, we just have to get there. So tanking weather is what we are watching closely. By the time we get to launch there is just a 20 percent chance of KSC [Kennedy Space Center] weather prohibiting launch," she said.

Storms and lighting² pose a threat to the shuttle while it is on the launch pad, especially during the rainy summer months. The concerns are greater when loading fuel, because engineers are pumping volatile³ liquid hydrogen into the shuttle's tanks.

MIssion management chair Mike Moses said the launch area at Kennedy space center took a direct lightning strike last Saturday.

"We did affect some of the camera systems, the ground servicing equipment, and some leak detectors⁴. So we definitely did damage from that lightning event. Those systems have all been replaced and everything is fine. But that shows that lightning is a very serious thing," he said.

Moses added that one problem that engineers continue to watch is foam⁵ insulation⁶ falling off the shuttle's external fuel tanks during launch. The issue of falling foam has plagued several recent shuttle flights, and is blamed for causing damage that led to the break-up of shuttle Columbia in 2003.

Moses said the foam loss does pose a small risk of damaging shuttle Discovery when it takes off early Tuesday.
　
A NASA image of the International Space Station as seen from Space Shuttle Endeavor (File)

"But we felt that risk was acceptable enough and the processes to control that risk are robust⁷ enough that we are ok to fly. We need to keep improving that tank so it does not happen again," he added.

The Discovery crew is expected to spend 13 days in orbit, and astronauts will conduct three space walks after the orbiter's rendezvous⁸ with the space station. The team will deliver a new freezer and other equipment for future experiments in space, as well as a new treadmill⁹ named after U.S. comedian¹⁰ Stephen Colbert.

 

1 cape   

n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风

参考例句：

• I long for a trip to the Cape of Good Hope.我渴望到好望角去旅行。
• She was wearing a cape over her dress.她在外套上披着一件披肩。

2 lighting   

n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光

参考例句：

• The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
• The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。

3 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
• His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。

4 detectors   

探测器( detector的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The report advocated that all buildings be fitted with smoke detectors. 报告主张所有的建筑物都应安装烟火探测器。
• This is heady wine for experimenters using these neutrino detectors. 对于使用中微子探测器的实验工作者，这是令人兴奋的美酒。 来自英汉非文学 - 科技

5 foam   

v./n.泡沫，起泡沫

参考例句：

• The glass of beer was mostly foam.这杯啤酒大部分是泡沫。
• The surface of the water is full of foam.水面都是泡沫。

6 insulation   

n.隔离；绝缘；隔热

参考例句：

• Please examine the insulation of the electric wires in my house.请检查一下我屋子里电线的绝缘情况。
• It is always difficult to assure good insulation between the electric leads.要保证两个电触头之间有良好的绝缘总是很困难的。

7 robust   

adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的

参考例句：

• She is too tall and robust.她个子太高，身体太壮。
• China wants to keep growth robust to reduce poverty and avoid job losses,AP commented.美联社评论道，中国希望保持经济强势增长，以减少贫困和失业状况。

8 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。

9 treadmill   

n.踏车；单调的工作

参考例句：

• The treadmill has a heart rate monitor.跑步机上有个脉搏监视器。
• Drugs remove man from the treadmill of routine.药物可以使人摆脱日常单调的工作带来的疲劳。

10 comedian   

n.喜剧演员；滑稽演员

参考例句：

• The comedian tickled the crowd with his jokes.喜剧演员的笑话把人们逗乐了。
• The comedian enjoyed great popularity during the 30's.那位喜剧演员在三十年代非常走红。