China’s long march into Earth’s orbit

China’s biggest and most powerful carrier rocket, the Long March 5, kicked off its latest space mission on Dec 27, 2019 at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan province.
2019年12月27日，我国最强大的运载火箭长征五号从海南文昌航天发射场点火升空，开始了它最新一次太空征程。

The rocket, coded as Long March 5 Y3, carried the Shijian 20 technological experiment satellite. At more than eight tons, it is the heaviest and most advanced communications satellite yet built by China.
“长征五号”遥三火箭上搭载有实践二十号技术试验卫星。这颗超过8顿重的卫星是我国目前重量最大、技术最先进的通信卫星。

About 33 minutes later, the satellite entered its planned orbit, 36,000 kilometers above Earth.
约33分钟后，这颗卫星进入了距地面约36000公里的预定轨道。

The success of the flight will lay the foundation for a series of future Chinese space projects. These include exploring Mars, returning moon samples and constructing a space station, Wu Yanhua, deputy director of the China National Space Administration (CNSA), told Xinhua.
这次的成功发射为中国未来的一系列空间项目奠定了基础，包括火星探测、月球采样返回以及航天空间站建设等，中国国家航天局副局长吴艳华在接受新华社采访时如此表示。

The Shijian 20 satellite will test the key technologies of the DFH 5 platform, China’s new-generation large satellite platform, and offer communication and broadcasting service, according to Xinhua.
据新华社报道，实践二十号卫星将对“东五平台”（中国新一代大型卫星平台）的主要关键技术进行验证，并提供通信和广播服务。

The Long March 5 made its maiden flight on Nov 3, 2016 from Wenchang.The rocket is about 57 meters long, equivalent to the height of a 20-story building. The Long March 5 is much larger than China’s previous carrier rockets. It has a takeoff weight of about 870 tons and a thrust of more than 1,000 tons.
2016年11月3日，长征五号在文昌首飞成功。该火箭长约57米，相当于一栋20层大楼的高度。长征五号比我国先前的运载火箭都要大。其起飞重量约870吨，总推力超过1000吨。

The carrying capacity of the Long March 5 rocket equals that of other large-scale rockets in the global industry. Wang Xiaojun, president of the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, told Xinhua this will greatly improve China’s ability to launch spacecraft and set up the future development of new-generation carrier rockets and heavy-lift launch vehicles.
长征五号的运载力与全球其他大型火箭不相上下。中国运载火箭技术研究院院长王小军在接受新华社采访时表示，长征五号火箭在大幅提升我国自主进入空间能力的同时，也为未来构筑我国新一代运载火箭系列型谱以及发展重型运载火箭奠定了坚实的基础。

The design team made efforts to decrease the weight of the rocket. For instance, the thickness of the rocket shell in some parts is only a few millimeters, according to Li Linsheng, a structural strength analysis designer.
设计团队努力对该火箭进行了减重优化。比如，火箭结构强度分析设计师李林生介绍称，火箭某些部分的外壳厚度仅为几毫米。

“In 2020, we will use the Long March 5 to launch the Chang’e 5 probe to the moon and also send a rover toward Mars,” Wang Xiaojun said. “Rockets to fulfill these missions are in the testing phases.”
“在2020年，我们计划用长征五号发射嫦娥五号月球探测器，以及发射火星探测器等，”王小军表示。“执行后续各项任务的火箭正在开展各项测试工作。”

China will continue to be the world’s most frequent user of carrier rockets after gaining the title in 2018, with 33 successful launches in 2019.
继2018年中国运载火箭发射次数成为全球第一之后，2019年中国还将继续保持这一势头，进行了33次火箭入轨发射。

2020 is also expected to be a busy one for the nation’s space launch industry. A host of new types of rockets, such as the Long March 5B, Long March 8, Smart Dragon 2 and Kuaizhou 11, will make their debuts.
对于我国航天业而言，2020年也将是忙碌的一年。长征五号B、长征八号、快舟十一号、捷龙二号等多型新一代运载火箭也将相继迎来首飞。

以上文章内容选自《21世纪学生英文报高中版》，详情请见《21世纪学生英文报高中版》高二777期