China to Send 3 Astronauts to New Space Station
2021-06-03
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1China plans to send three astronauts to its new space station later this month.
2The plans were confirmed to state television by Yang Liwei, a chief designer for China's manned space program.
3Yang was the country's first astronaut to launch into orbit in 2003.
4Three astronauts are to complete a three-month mission on the new space station, called Tianhe.
5It is the third and largest space station China has built.
6Its main module was launched into orbit April 29.
7Last Sunday, a self-piloted spacecraft arrived at the space station carrying supplies.
8Chinese officials said the Tianzhou-2 spacecraft reached the station eight hours after lanching from Hainan, an island in the South China Sea.
9The spacecraft was carrying space suits, living supplies, equipment and fuel.
10The astronauts will be carried to space aboard the country's Shenzhou 12 spacecraft.
11It will launch from China's Jiuquan base in the northwest.
12Yang did not provide the identities of the astronauts or give a flight date in his comments to China Central Television.
13But he said the astronauts were expected to practice spacewalks, complete repairs and carry out some scientific operations.
14When asked whether any women were in the crew, Yang said none would be joining the upcoming mission.
15"But missions after that all will have them," he added.
16China does not take part in activities aboard the International Space Station, largely because of U.S. objections.
17U.S. officials are suspicious of the Chinese space program's secrecy and its connections to the country's military.
18The Chinese space agency plans a total of 11 launches through the end of next year.
19The missions will transport the remaining modules for the 70-ton space station and transport more supplies and crew.
20China has sent 11 astronauts -- including two women -- into space, beginning with Yang's flight in October 2003.
21The first female astronaut was Liu Yang in 2012.
22All of China's astronauts to date have been pilots from the ruling Communist Party's military branch, the People's Liberation Army.
23Yang said the astronauts will practice making spacewalks with two people outside the station at one time.
24China's first spacewalk was made in 2008 by astronaut Zhai Zhigang outside the Shenzhou 7 spacecraft.
25The space station mission marks the latest step forward for China's space program.
26Last month, China made history by successfully landing a spacecraft on Mars.
27The Tianwen-1 spacecraft carried a robotic explorer, called Zhurong.
28The explorer, or rover, is expected to measure atmospheric conditions and magnetic forces during its search for signs of ancient life on the Red Planet.
29I'm Bryan Lynn.
1China plans to send three astronauts to its new space station later this month. 2The plans were confirmed to state television by Yang Liwei, a chief designer for China's manned space program. Yang was the country's first astronaut to launch into orbit in 2003. 3Three astronauts are to complete a three-month mission on the new space station, called Tianhe. It is the third and largest space station China has built. Its main module was launched into orbit April 29. 4Last Sunday, a self-piloted spacecraft arrived at the space station carrying supplies. Chinese officials said the Tianzhou-2 spacecraft reached the station eight hours after lanching from Hainan, an island in the South China Sea. The spacecraft was carrying space suits, living supplies, equipment and fuel. 5The astronauts will be carried to space aboard the country's Shenzhou 12 spacecraft. It will launch from China's Jiuquan base in the northwest. 6Yang did not provide the identities of the astronauts or give a flight date in his comments to China Central Television. But he said the astronauts were expected to practice spacewalks, complete repairs and carry out some scientific operations. 7When asked whether any women were in the crew, Yang said none would be joining the upcoming mission. "But missions after that all will have them," he added. 8China does not take part in activities aboard the International Space Station, largely because of U.S. objections. U.S. officials are suspicious of the Chinese space program's secrecy and its connections to the country's military. 9The Chinese space agency plans a total of 11 launches through the end of next year. The missions will transport the remaining modules for the 70-ton space station and transport more supplies and crew. 10China has sent 11 astronauts -- including two women -- into space, beginning with Yang's flight in October 2003. The first female astronaut was Liu Yang in 2012. 11All of China's astronauts to date have been pilots from the ruling Communist Party's military branch, the People's Liberation Army. 12Yang said the astronauts will practice making spacewalks with two people outside the station at one time. China's first spacewalk was made in 2008 by astronaut Zhai Zhigang outside the Shenzhou 7 spacecraft. 13The space station mission marks the latest step forward for China's space program. 14Last month, China made history by successfully landing a spacecraft on Mars. The Tianwen-1 spacecraft carried a robotic explorer, called Zhurong. The explorer, or rover, is expected to measure atmospheric conditions and magnetic forces during its search for signs of ancient life on the Red Planet. 15I'm Bryan Lynn. 16The Associated Press reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. 17We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. 18__________________________________________________________ 19Words in This Story 20mission - adj. a flight by an aircraft or spacecraft to perform a specific task 21module - n. a part of an object that can operate alone, especially a part of a spacecraft