China, whose astronauts have long been deliberately prevented from the ISS (国际空间站), successfully launched the first core module (核心舱) of its planned space station on Thursday morning from the Wenchang launch site in the southern island of Hainan. The module, currently the largest spacecraft developed by China, was launched into low earth orbit by a Long March 5B rocket, marking the first step of China’s efforts to build its own station in two years. The space station won’t launch all at once: it will be assembled from several modules launching at different times and will be fully operational by the end of 2022.
The core module has a length of 16.6 meters and a living space of 50 cubic meters. It’s expected to operate for 10 to 15 years. Eleven launches are scheduled in the next two years. The first manned mission was launched in June of this year—sending three astronauts to orbit for about three months, during which the life support system and maintenance would be tested.
It won’t be as large as the ISS—about one fifth of its size and similar to the Russian Mir space station, which operated from 1986 to 2001. China launched its first manned space flight in 2003—more than 40 years after NASA. But as the nation has grown richer and more powerful in recent decades, its space program has sped up.
China’s space station-the core module is known as Tianhe, which means harmony of the heavens—will conduct a number of scientific experiments. Six projects have been fully accepted so far including one on the possible effects of spaceflight on cancer tumors (肿瘤) conducted by researchers from Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium and France. “International cooperation helps Chinn’s scientific community to learn from other nations and describe China as a cooperative world power,” said David Burbach, a professor at the US Naval War College.
The two countries established diplomatic (外交的) relations in 1979. However, there’s been very little cooperation between the US and China in space since 2011, when US Congress passed an act to prevent NASA from having any cooperation with individuals of the Chinese space program.
12. How did China successfully develop her core module?
A.By copying it from NASA. | B.By planning it early. |
C.By developing it on her own. | D.By cooperating with US. |
13. What is the purpose of the cancer tumors project?
A.To test if tumors can live in space. |
B.To examine if tumors are influenced by spaceflight. |
C.To boost international cooperation in space. |
D.To establish good relations with other countries. |
14. What impression does China’s space program give other countries?
A.It’s controversial. | B.It’s confidential | C.It’s aggressive. | D.It’s cooperative. |
15. Why does China have little cooperation with NASA?
A.The US doesn’t allow the cooperation. |
B.The US doesn’t trust China’s technology. |
C.China’s space technology has been advanced enough. |
D.China hasn’t established diplomatic relations with the US. |