? ? ? ? ? ? ?
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
? {{B}}Orbital Space Plane{{/B}} ? ?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 on space station missions 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
the orbital space plane, which would be designed to transport a crew of four to
and from the International Space Station. ? ?Although it includes
few specifics, the plan stipulates the orbiter 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 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 linger concerning
the loss of Columbia and its seven-member crew on February 1, 2003. ?
?Experts 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, 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. ? ?US 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.
When did the scientists start working on a successor to the shuttle?
? ? ? ? ? ? ?
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
? {{B}}Orbital Space Plane{{/B}} ? ?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 on space station missions 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
the orbital space plane, which would be designed to transport a crew of four to
and from the International Space Station. ? ?Although it includes
few specifics, the plan stipulates the orbiter 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 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 linger concerning
the loss of Columbia and its seven-member crew on February 1, 2003. ?
?Experts 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, 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. ? ?US 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.
When did the scientists start working on a successor to the shuttle?
A.Immediately after the Columbia disaster. B.One year after the Columbia disaster. C.Years before the explosion of Columbia. D.Not mentioned in the passage.
单选集
