All systems go for lunar probe liftoff |
文章来源： 文章作者： 发布时间：2007-10-24 03:22 字体： [ 大 中 小] 进入论坛 |
(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
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| This picture was taken on October 22, 2007, at Xichang Satellite Launching Site, when the Chang'e-1, the lunar orbiter made in China, was ready to be launched. It might be sent up into space on October 24. |
| XICHANG, Sichuan, Oct.24 - Preparations are almost complete for the launch of the country's first lunar orbiter, according to a spokesman for the Xichang Satellite Launch Center.
The rocket is at the launch pad and all staff are in position at the site for the launch either today or the next two days.
The satellite will be launched between Wednesday and Friday, with 6 pm today being the preferred choice, a spokesman for the China National Space Administration (CNSA) said on Monday.
Meteorologists have forecast suitable weather over the next few days.
The satellite, which was shipped to the launch center two months ago, and the carrier Long March 3-A, set in place a month ago, have undergone all pre-launch tests, the launch center said.
Two hours before the launch, residents living within 2.5 km of the launch center and under the trajectory1 of the carrier will be evacuated2, it said, adding that the number will be several thousand.
The circumlunar satellite, named Chang'e I after a legendary3 Chinese fairy who is said to have flown to the moon, is expected to enter the Earth-moon transfer orbit on October 31 and arrive in the moon's orbit on November 5.
The satellite will relay the first pictures of the moon in late November and will then continue scientific exploration for a year.
As the countdown begins for the launch, the attention of the whole country has turned to this small town in Southwest China.
Xichang, dubbed4 "Moon City", is packed with journalists and tourists from every corner of the country, all attracted by the rare chance to watch the blastoff.
The local television station has reported that at least 1,000 journalists have flocked to the town.
"Journalists can be seen everywhere, carrying video cameras or long lens. You can't miss them," said a local TV reporter.
A villager who lives near the launch center said she has been interviewed several times in the past few days, which she described as "a bit of a bother".
"But we've got used to it," she added.
So have hotels, taxi drivers and travel agencies, all benefiting from the big event, regarded as the third milestone5 in China's space achievements after manned flights in 2003 and 2005.
"It is difficult to find a vehicle for rent. The town is more crowded than during the National Day holiday when tourist flows peak," said a local driver.
Thanks to the Internet, Jinying Travel Service, a small travel agency, is now famous nationwide because it forecast the launch date.
Last month, when the national media were in the dark about the blastoff date, the agency said it would begin selling tickets for watching the launch in late October. The news spread online overnight.
Though the prices are high, up to 1,000 yuan ($133), with tourists from outside footing travel costs, many have called to book a ticket.
The manager of the agency, who identified herself as Wang, said the oldest tourist is a professor aged6 over 90 from Beijing, and the youngest less than three years old.
"We have sold tickets for watching satellite launches, but never have so many people called. After all, it is the first time that we were allowed to sell tickets for viewing such a big project," she said.
She refused to reveal how many tickets have been sold, but earlier reports cited an agency source as saying they were allowed to sell a maximum of 2,000 tickets for spots on two viewing platforms 4 km from the launch pad.
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点击  收听单词发音
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1
trajectory
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| n.弹道，轨道 |
参考例句： |
- It is not difficult to sketch the subsequent trajectory.很容易描绘出它们最终的轨迹。
- The path followed by a projectile is called its trajectory.抛物体所循的路径称为它的轨道。
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2
evacuated
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| 撤退者的 |
参考例句： |
- Police evacuated nearby buildings. 警方已将附近大楼的居民疏散。
- The fireman evacuated the guests from the burning hotel. 消防队员把客人们从燃烧着的旅馆中撤出来。
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3
legendary
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| adj.传奇（中）的，闻名遐迩的；n.传奇（文学） |
参考例句： |
- Legendary stories are passed down from parents to children.传奇故事是由父母传给孩子们的。
- Odysseus was a legendary Greek hero.奥狄修斯是传说中的希腊英雄。
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4
dubbed
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| v.给…起绰号( dub的过去式和过去分词 )；把…称为；配音；复制 |
参考例句： |
- Mathematics was once dubbed the handmaiden of the sciences. 数学曾一度被视为各门科学的基础。
- Is the movie dubbed or does it have subtitles? 这部电影是配音的还是打字幕的？ 来自《简明英汉词典》
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5
milestone
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| n.里程碑；划时代的事件 |
参考例句： |
- The film proved to be a milestone in the history of cinema.事实证明这部影片是电影史上的一个里程碑。
- I think this is a very important milestone in the relations between our two countries.我认为这是我们两国关系中一个十分重要的里程碑。
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6
aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 |
参考例句： |
- He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
- He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。
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