Virgin Spaceship Completes First Solo Flight
维京太空船完成单飞首航
本新闻影音出处：新唐人电视台英语新闻
http://english.ntdtv.com/ntdtv_en/ns_na/2010-10-12/125023911195.html
A Virgin Galactic spaceship has completed its first solo test flight.
维京银河太空船已完成首次单独试飞。
Called the VSS Enterprise, the world’s first commercial manned spaceship was carried to an altitude of 45,000 feet by an airplane, and then released to glide for 11 minutes before landing at the Mojave Air and Space Port.
名为VSS 企业号，世上第一架商用人为驾驶太空船，由飞机乘载至45,000英尺的高度，然后释放，在莫哈韦航空航天港降落前滑翔11分钟。
Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group, described Saturday’s flight as a “big milestone“.
理查德布兰森，维珍集团创办人，形容周六的飞行是一个“重要的里程碑”。
[Sir Richard Branson, Virgin Group Founder]:
“The big milestones in the spaceship program, and it couldn’t have gone better. The spaceship flew like a bird and the crew got out with big smiles on their face. So, I am absolutelydelighted.”
[理查德布兰森，维珍集团创办人]理查德布兰森说：
“这是太空船计划的重要里程碑，它表现的太好了。太空船的飞行就像一只鸟，飞行员出来后都带着满满的笑容。因此我非常高兴。”
Branson expresses his desire for everyone in the world to be a part of the space travel project.
布兰森表示，他希望世上每个人都能成为太空旅行计划的一部分。
[Sir Richard Branson, Virgin Group Founder]:
“Obviously we want to involve everybody in the world in this wonderful project. And some people will be involved by taking them into space, but everybody can be involved by following it on the internet through Virgin Galactic.”
[理查德布兰森，维珍集团创办人]理查德布兰森说：
“显然我们希望世上所有人，都能参与这项美好的计划。有些人的参与是带他们到太空，但是每个人都能在网路上，透过维京银河号的脚步参与其中。”
VSS Enterprise officials confirmed that all the flight’s objectives were successfully completed.
VSS 企业号官员证实，所有飞行目标都顺利完成。
Space tourists will soon have the opportunity to book a trip on the Enterprise for 200,000 dollars.
太空观光客将很快有机会，以20万美元预定VSS企业旅程。
【新闻关键字】
1. galactic: adj. 银河的、星系的
【英解】relating to the Galaxy or other galaxies
【例句】Intergalactic travel is space travel between galaxies. 星际旅行就是在星系间的太空旅行。
2. manned: adj. 由人驾驶的
【英解】describes a spacecraft, or a place where military guards work, that has no people present to operate or be in charge of it
3. altitude: n.高度
【英解】height above sea level
【例句】We are currently flying at an altitude of 15 000 metres.
我们目前飞行在15,000公尺的高度。
4. release: v.释放
【英解】to give freedom or free movement to someone or something
【例句】He was released from prison after serving two years of a five-year sentence. 他服完五年徒刑的两年后，获释出狱。
5. glide: v. 滑翔
【英解】to move easily without stopping and without effort or noise
【例句】I love my new pen – it just glides over the paper.
我爱我的新钢笔─它就像在纸上滑翔一般
6. milestone: n. 里程碑
【英解】an important event in the development or history of something or in someone’s life
【例句】 He felt that moving out from his parents’ home was a real milestone in his life. 他觉得搬出父母家，是人生中一个真正的里程碑。
7. delighted: adj. 高兴的
【英解】very pleased
【例句】I was delighted at your news. 听到你的消息，我很高兴。
8. express: v. 表达
【英解】to show a feeling, opinion or fact
【例句】Words can’t express how happy I am.
话语无法表达我是多么快乐
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