Third attempt to launch shuttle 发现号航天飞机试图第三次起飞

时间：2009-08-29 02:32:43

（单词翻译:单击）

Nasa is set for a fresh attempt to launch the US shuttle Discovery for a mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

美国航空航天局重新计划将发现号航天飞机送上国际空间站。

Discovery
Discovery's mission is scheduled to include three spacewalks

Two previous attempts to launch the orbiter have been postponed1 by a mix of bad weather and a technical glitch2（小故障，小失误） affecting its main propulsion system（推动系统，动力装置）.

Lift-off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida is now scheduled for 1159 EDT Friday (0359 GMT Saturday).

Discovery's mission will be the 30th flight dedicated3 to ISS maintenance（维护，保持）.

It is transporting materials including science equipment and a freezer to store research samples.

It also carries a new sleeping compartment4, an air purification system and a treadmill5（踏车，跑步机） to help maintain astronauts' health.

Six sorties

Nasa plans an additional six sorties to the orbiting platform before retiring its re-useable spaceship fleet at the end of next year or early in 2011.

Managers had been discussing an early Friday flight but decided6 to give their engineers an extra 23 hours to study the hydrogen stop-drain fuel-valve problem that thwarted7（反对，阻碍） the second launch effort on Wednesday.

Engineers now believe the unexpected signals they were getting from the propulsion system while filling the orbiter's giant external tank on Tuesday were related to a errant（错误的） sensor8.

Heavy rain and lightning had intervened（插入，调停） at the first launch attempt on Tuesday morning.

Nasa has until 30 August to get Discovery away before standing9 down the mission to allow the US Air Force to conduct military satellite operations in the Cape10 Canaveral area.

If that happens, the next flight opportunity for the shuttle would not be until 17 October.

The big gap is due to congestion11（拥挤） at the space station, with Japan's new cargo12 ship due to make its maiden13 voyage（处女航） to the ISS in the middle of September, and a Russian Soyuz craft expected to carry a new crew and space tourist a couple of weeks later.

Discovery's 13-day mission is scheduled to include three spacewalks to replace exterior14（外部的，表面的） science experiments, prepare the platform for the arrival of a new module15 next year, and to install a new ammonia（氨水） storage tank and return the used one.

Ammonia is used to move excess heat from inside the station to the radiators16 outside.

Discovery will also drop off US astronaut Nicole Stott for a three-month stay on the ISS, and pick up colleague Tim Kopra for the ride home. Kopra has been living on the platform for the past six weeks.

The mission is commanded by Rick Sturckow.


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1 postponed 9dc016075e0da542aaa70e9f01bf4ab1     
vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发）
参考例句：
  • The trial was postponed indefinitely. 审讯无限期延迟。
  • The game has already been postponed three times. 这场比赛已经三度延期了。
2 glitch Pejzq     
n.干扰；误操作，小故障
参考例句：
  • There is a glitch in the computer program somewhere.这个计算机程序中的某个部分有点小问题。
  • It could just be a random glitch that can be solved by restarting the machine.可能只是一个小故障，重新启动主机就能解决了。
3 dedicated duHzy2     
adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的
参考例句：
  • He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
  • His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。
4 compartment dOFz6     
n.卧车包房，隔间；分隔的空间
参考例句：
  • We were glad to have the whole compartment to ourselves.真高兴，整个客车隔间由我们独享。
  • The batteries are safely enclosed in a watertight compartment.电池被安全地置于一个防水的隔间里。
5 treadmill 1pOyz     
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。
6 decided lvqzZd     
adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的
参考例句：
  • This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
  • There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
7 thwarted 919ac32a9754717079125d7edb273fc2     
阻挠( thwart的过去式和过去分词 )； 使受挫折； 挫败； 横过
参考例句：
  • The guards thwarted his attempt to escape from prison. 警卫阻扰了他越狱的企图。
  • Our plans for a picnic were thwarted by the rain. 我们的野餐计划因雨受挫。
8 sensor sz7we     
n.传感器，探测设备，感觉器（官）
参考例句：
  • The temperature sensor is enclosed in a protective well.温度传感器密封在保护套管中。
  • He plugged the sensor into a outlet.他把传感器插进电源插座。
9 standing 2hCzgo     
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。
10 cape ITEy6     
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。
11 congestion pYmy3     
n.阻塞，消化不良
参考例句：
  • The congestion in the city gets even worse during the summer.夏天城市交通阻塞尤为严重。
  • Parking near the school causes severe traffic congestion.在学校附近泊车会引起严重的交通堵塞。
12 cargo 6TcyG     
n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物
参考例句：
  • The ship has a cargo of about 200 ton.这条船大约有200吨的货物。
  • A lot of people discharged the cargo from a ship.许多人从船上卸下货物。
13 maiden yRpz7     
n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的
参考例句：
  • The prince fell in love with a fair young maiden.王子爱上了一位年轻美丽的少女。
  • The aircraft makes its maiden flight tomorrow.这架飞机明天首航。
14 exterior LlYyr     
adj.外部的，外在的；表面的
参考例句：
  • The seed has a hard exterior covering.这种子外壳很硬。
  • We are painting the exterior wall of the house.我们正在给房子的外墙涂漆。
15 module iEjxj     
n.组件，模块，模件；(航天器的)舱
参考例句：
  • The centre module displays traffic guidance information.中央模块显示交通引导信息。
  • Two large tanks in the service module held liquid oxygen.服务舱的两个大气瓶中装有液态氧。
16 radiators 3b2bec7153ad581082a64cd93346b77f     
n.（暖气设备的）散热器( radiator的名词复数 )；汽车引擎的冷却器，散热器
参考例句：
  • You can preset the radiators to come on when you need them to. 你可以预先调好暖气，使它在你需要的时候启动。
  • Stars are radiators of vast power. 恒星是强大的发光体。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

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