Backgroung: Xichang Satellite Launching Center--40 years at spotlight
As the whole world is waiting for the upcoming launch of China's second lunar probe, Chang'e II, the Xichang satellite launching center is also in the spotlight. Of all the satellites China has launched, more than half of them took off from Xichang. Chang'e II will be the 60th mission the launching center has carried out in its 40 year history.
upcoming ['ʌp,kʌmiŋ]adj. 即将来临的
in the spotlight处于公众注意的中心；出风头
take off起飞；脱下；离开
mission [ˈmiʃən]n.使命，任务，天职；代表团，使团
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Established in 1970, the Xichang satellite launching center in the southwestern province of Sichuan is one of the three major satellite launching centers in China. The other two include Jiuquan in Guansu province and Taiyuan in Shanxi province.
Xichang is at a lower latitude than the other two launch centers, so it has different launch priorities and has created many "firsts." The launching center mainly launches geostationary satellites. It's also China's first launching center to open to other countries and it launches the largest number of satellites. It's also the only center that is able to refuel liquid hydrogen for rockets.
refuel [,ri:'fjuəl]vt. 补给燃料
liquid hydrogen【物理学】液体氢
The launching site is located in a mountainous valley 60 kilometers from the city of Xichang, with the command and control center having been moved to the city a few years ago. The launching center is composed of five sections: testing and launch, measuring and control, telecommunication, weather and supportive services.
tele-communication [,telikə,mju:ni'keiʃən]n. 电讯；远程通信；无线电通讯
supportive services支持服务supportive [sə'pɔ:tiv]
In its 59 missions so far, Xichang has successfully sent 57 satellites into the space, with a few failed missions in the early 1990s.The launching center has set many records in China's satellite launching history. It launched China's first trial telecommunication satellite in 1984, the first international business satellite "Asia I" in 1990, as well as the first "Beidou" navigation satellite in 2000. Sun Baowei says the list continues. As the launching center develops, it draws many talented young people, who become the backbone of the launching center.
set many records 创造很多记录(set有创造的意思)
The launching center is now building another launc
draws [drɔ:z]吸引(注意发音)
The launching center is now building another launching site on Hainan Island in southern China. As the new site is close to the sea, it will make the transportation of big and heavy rockets easier and the remains of burned rockets will fall into the sea.
southern ['sʌðən]/关键是发音/南方的,南部的
