- completion （complete）完成
- laboratory module 实验舱
- dock 对接
China successfully docked a second laboratory module to its under-construction space station, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) said Monday, as the country takes a step closer to completing its orbital outpost by the end of the year.
- under-construction 在建的
- CMSA 中国载人航天
- take a step closer to （doing）sth 离…更进一步
- orbital 轨道的
- outpost 前哨(基地)
The Wentian module was launched atop a Long March 5B rocket from Hainan Island at 2:22 p.m. local time on Sunday.
- launch [lɔːntʃ] 发射
- atop 在…上
Wentian, China's largest ever spacecraft weighing 23 metric tons, is equipped with four scientific cabinets to conduct ecological and biotechnological experiments under varying gravity conditions. It also features a robotic arm for external experiments and an additional airlock for spacewalks.
- largest ever 有史以来最大的
- spacecraft 宇宙飞船；航天器
- sth weigh… 某物多重
- be equipped with 装配有…
- cabinet 格子；小房间
- conduct experiment 进行实验
- ecological 生态的
- biotechnological 生物技术的
- under…condition 在…条件下
- varying 变化的；各种各样的
- gravity 重力
- external 外部的
- airlock (航天器或潜艇等的)气闸室；气塞
The docking marks the penultimate phase in the construction of China's ambitious three-module Tiangong space station project, which is slated to finish construction by late 2022.
- mark 标志着
- penultimate [penˈʌltɪmət] 倒数第二的
- be slated to 预定…
Construction of the space station began in April last year, with the launch of the Tianhe module -- the station's main living quarters. In October, China is expected to launch a second laboratory module, known as Mengtian. The two laboratory modules will link-up to form a T-shaped structure, with Tianhe in the center.
- living quarter 居住区；生活模块；住宅小区；生活区
- be expected to 有望
- link-up 连接
- T-shaped T字型的
Monday's docking took place with three Chinese astronauts aboard the space station, who arrived in June on the Shenzhou 14 crewed mission.
- take place 发生举行
- crewed 配有船员的
The Tiangong space station is the world's second operational orbital outpost, alongside the International Space Station (ISS).
- operational 运转的；运营的
- alongside 和…一起
