VOA标准英语2011--NASA Identifies Shuttle Endeavour's Heat

NASA Identifies Shuttle Endeavour's Heater Glitch¹

NASA says engineers at Kennedy Space Center believe they have identified the cause of the heater failure that forced the postponement² of the launch of the shuttle Endeavour.
NASA technicians say the fuel heater failure likely stems from a problem in a box of switches that controls power feeds. Engineers say it will take several days to replace and test that switch box to ensure fuel line heaters are functioning properly.
The shuttle Endeavour's launch was scrubbed last Friday only hours before liftoff. Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach explained the heaters are needed to keep fuel from freezing in each of three auxiliary³ power units during orbit.
The units provide hydraulic⁴ power to steer⁵ the shuttle during ascent⁶ and re-entry.
"We did not want to commit to flight with only one of two heaters on the auxiliary power unit fuel line, because of the chance that if you lost that one good one on orbit, then you run the very high risk of freezing the fuel in that line and therefore the auxiliary power unit would not function and therefore you would not have full hydraulic power," he said.
Leinbach said a loss of hydraulic power could cause problems during re-entry.
Managers have yet to set a date for Endeavour's next launch attempt.
"And as we always say in this business, we will not fly before we are ready," said Leinbach.
NASA officials say they do not expect to be ready to launch before Sunday, May 8.
This mission will be Endeavour's 25th and final flight. NASA is retiring its 30-year-old shuttle program this year.

1 glitch   

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。

2 postponement   

n.推迟

参考例句：

• He compounded with his creditors for a postponement of payment. 他与债权人达成协议延期付款。
• Rain caused the postponement of several race-meetings. 几次赛马大会因雨延期。

3 auxiliary   

adj.辅助的，备用的

参考例句：

• I work in an auxiliary unit.我在一家附属单位工作。
• The hospital has an auxiliary power system in case of blackout.这家医院装有备用发电系统以防灯火管制。

4 hydraulic   

adj.水力的；水压的，液压的；水力学的

参考例句：

• The boat has no fewer than five hydraulic pumps.这艘船配有不少于5个液压泵。
• A group of apprentics were operating the hydraulic press.一群学徒正在开动水压机。

5 steer   

vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶

参考例句：

• If you push the car, I'll steer it.如果你来推车，我就来驾车。
• It's no use trying to steer the boy into a course of action that suits you.想说服这孩子按你的方式行事是徒劳的。

6 ascent   

n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高

参考例句：

• His rapid ascent in the social scale was surprising.他的社会地位提高之迅速令人吃惊。
• Burke pushed the button and the elevator began its slow ascent.伯克按动电钮，电梯开始缓慢上升。