【New words and expressions】 生词和短语

★Hubble n 哈勃

★telescope n 望远镜

★launch v 发射

★space n 空间(指宇宙空间)

room 空间, 不可数 (a room 为房间,可数)

could you make room for me?你能为我腾一点空间吗?

★billion n 10亿

★faulty adj 有错误的

★astronaut n 宇航员

★shuttle n 航天飞机

★Endeavour n “奋进” 号

★robot－arm n 机器手

robot n.机器人, 遥控设备, 自动机械, 机械般工作的人

★grab v 抓

★atmosphere n 大气层

atmosphere n.大气, 空气, 气氛, 氛围

I went to the New Concept English of New Oriental school for its good atmosphere

★distant adj 遥远的

★galaxy n 星系

★universe n 宇宙

★eagle eye n 鹰眼,一种仪器

【Text】

The Hubble telescope was launched into space by NASA on April 20, 1990 at a cost of over a billion dollars. Right from the start there was trouble with the Hubble. The pictures it sent us were very disappointing because its main mirror was faulty! NASA is now going to put the telescope right, so it will soon be sending up four astronauts to repair it. The shuttle Endeavour will be taking the astronauts to the Hubble. A robot-arm from the Endeavour will grab the telescope and hold it while the astronauts make the necessary repairs. Of course, the Hubble is above the earth's atmosphere, so it will soon be sending us the clearest pictures of the stars and distant galaxies that we have ever seen. The Hubble will tell us a great deal about the age and size of the universe. By the time you read this, the Rubble's eagle eye will have sent us thousands and thousands of wonderful pictures.