shuttle Discovery lands in Florida,concluding flying career

    WASHINGTON, March 9 (Xinhua) -- U.S. space shuttle Discovery landed safely at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday, ending its nearly 27-year flying career as the world's most- traveled spaceship（宇宙飞船）.
    According to NASA, Discovery touched down at 11:57 a.m. EST ( 1657 GMT) after a 13-day resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
    "For the final time: wheels stop," Discovery's commander Steven Lindsey called out as the shuttle rolled to a full stop.
    Discovery lifted off on Feb. 24 from the Kennedy Center and arrived at the space station on Feb. 26.
    During the mission, the astronauts installed a spare closet module¹ on the space station, completed some important repairs and delivered the first humanoid robot, though it will need more time to be assembled and made operational.
    The 330-pound R2 consists of a head and a torso with two arms and two hands. Once it is unpacked² -- likely several months after its arrival at the station -- it will initially³ be operated inside the Destiny laboratory for operational testing, but over time both its territory and its applications could expand.
    Aboard the station, its primary job for now is teaching engineers how dexterous⁴ robots behave in space. However, the hope is that through upgrades and advancements⁵, it could one day venture outside the station to help spacewalkers make repairs or additions to the station or perform scientific work.(本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑)

1 module   

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。

2 unpacked   

v.从（包裹等）中取出（所装的东西），打开行李取出( unpack的过去式和过去分词 )；拆包；解除…的负担；吐露（心事等）

参考例句：

• I unpacked my bags as soon as I arrived. 我一到达就打开行李，整理衣物。
• Our guide unpacked a picnic of ham sandwiches and offered us tea. 我们的导游打开装着火腿三明治的野餐盒，并给我们倒了些茶水。 来自辞典例句

3 initially   

adv.最初，开始

参考例句：

• The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
• Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。

4 dexterous   

adj.灵敏的；灵巧的

参考例句：

• As people grow older they generally become less dexterous.随着年龄的增长，人通常会变得不再那么手巧。
• The manager was dexterous in handling his staff.那位经理善于运用他属下的职员。

5 advancements   

n.（级别的）晋升( advancement的名词复数 )；前进；进展；促进

参考例句：

• Today, the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements. 当今， 随着科技进步，生活节奏不断增快。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Great advancements in drought prediction have been made in recent years. 近年来，人们对干旱灾害的预报研究取得了长足的进步。 来自互联网