听美文故事记6级单词03-10

10. Sattelite Launced from Xichang Space Center

China re-entered space yesterday evening, sending a communication satellite into orbit atop a Long March 3B rocket from a launch pad in Xichang in Southwest China's Sichuan Province.

A spokesman for the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology said the flight, which blasted off at 8 pm, is the 84th successful flight of China's Long-March rocket since its maiden¹ voyage in 1970, and the 42nd consecutive² successful flight since October 1996.

The successful launch of the communication satellite, AsiaSat-6 which will be used by Hong Kong-based company APT Satellite Limited, represents the return of Chinese rockets to the international commercial launch market after an absence of seven years, said a spokesman.

The AsiaSat-6, which has 50 transponders, was launched to replace AsiaSat-1 A.

The successful launch has shown the Long March rocket, which has the biggest carrying capacity of any commercial launch vehicle, is capable of carrying any satellite with a maximum weight of 5,100 kilograms into orbit.

Experts noted³ that the successful launch will have great significance for the development of China's aerospace⁴ technology and for China's expansion into the overseas commercial launch market.

Experts said the 62 successful flights by the rockets developed by China's Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology helped put 39 China-made satellites, 28 overseas-made satellites and five space vessels⁵, including one manned mission, into orbit over the past 35 years.

1 maiden   

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。

2 consecutive   

adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的

参考例句：

• It has rained for four consecutive days.已连续下了四天雨。
• The policy of our Party is consecutive.我党的政策始终如一。

3 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

4 aerospace   

adj.航空的，宇宙航行的

参考例句：

• The world's entire aerospace industry is feeling the chill winds of recession.全世界的航空航天工业都感受到了经济衰退的寒意。
• Edward Murphy was an aerospace engineer for the US Army.爱德华·墨菲是一名美军的航宇工程师。

5 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》