U.S. Shuttle Discovery Takes Off

美國發現號太空梭升空（上）

【新聞關鍵字】

1. shatter vt. 動搖，破壞

2. hauler n. 搬運工

3. trio n. 三個一組

4. outpost n. 前哨陣地

5. spare n. 儲備的

6. gear n. 裝備、齒輪

The United States space shuttle Discovery is on the way to the international space station with seven astronauts aboard. It’s one of NASA’s final servicing missions.

美國發現號太空梭載著7名太空人，正在前往國際太空站途中。這是美國太空總署的太空梭最後幾次的服務任務之一。

The shuttle took off at 6:21 Eastern Daylight Time, shattering the pre-dawn calm around the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

太空梭在美國東部白天時間的6:21起飛，震撼了黎明前寧靜的佛州甘迺迪太空中心。

The shuttle is carrying an Italian-built cargo hauler filled with equipment, experiments, food and supplies, which are expected to last until September. It’s taken about 12 years to build the structure about 220 miles above the Earth.

太空梭攜帶一台義大利製的貨物搬運機，其中裝滿了預期會用到九月的設備、實驗器材、食物和補給品。這個國際太空站是花了12年，在地球上空約220哩處建造起的結構。

The U.S. plans to stop flying its trio of space shuttles after three more missions to stock the outpost with spare parts and gear that is too big or bulky to fit on other spaceships.

美國計畫再進行三趟的補充太空前哨站過大而無法裝載於其他太空船的備件與工具裝備的任務後，停飛這一組三艘的太空梭。

The shuttles, which can carry about 50 tons to the station’s orbit, are being retired due to cost and safety concerns.

這些能載運大約50噸貨物上太空站軌道的太空梭，因為成本和安全的因素考量，即將退休。

本新聞影音出處：新唐人電視台英語新聞

http://english.ntdtv.com/ntdtv_en/ns_na/2010-04-06/001657940124.html

【每日一句】

Give me five！

給予我鼓勵一下！

【今日諺語】

Nothing dries sooner than a tear.

眼淚乾得最快