单选题
第三篇 Human Space Exploration
While scientists are searching the cause of the Columbia disaster, NASA is moving ahead with plans to develop a new craft that would replace shuttles(航天飞机)on space stationmissions by 2012 and respond quickly to space station emergencies.
The space agency released the first set of mission needs and requirements several days ago for me orbital space plane(轨道航天飞机),which would be designed to transport a crew of four to and from the International Space Station.
Although it includes few specifics,the plan states the orbiter(轨道航天飞机)will be safer cheaper and require less preparation time than the shuttle.It would be able to transport four crew members by 2012--though it would be available for rescue missions by 2010.NASA says the craft should be able to transport injured or ill space station crew members to“definitive(决定性的)medical care” within 24 hours.
The release of the requirements showed NASA remains focused on the long-term priorities of space exploration,even as questions exist concerning the loss of Columbia and its seven.member crew on February l,2003..
Expels at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville,Alabama,have been working for years on a successor to the shuttle.The project,known as the Space Launch Initiative(倡议),was divided last year into two parts----one focusing on a future launch vehicle,the other on a space station orbiter.The orbiter is expected to be ready sooner.
The program’s managers say NASA officials have told them not to alter Space Launch Initiative in light of the Columbia disaster.
U.S.President George W:Bush asked Congress for about US$1 billion for Space Launch Initiative in 2004,funds that would be almost equally split between the Orbital Space Plane and Next Generation Launch Technology.
单选题
According to the passage,the 1 billion funds,if granted,would
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】此题问的是10亿美元的款项被批准后用来干什么?选项A的意思是重建国际空间站,选项B的意思是颁发给在NASA工作的科学家,这两个选项都与原
文意思不符。最后一段说,若10亿美元的款项获得国会的批准,这笔款项基本上平分给the Orbital Space Plane和Next Generation Launch Technology这两个研究项目,故C为正确答案。