1、The Discovery space shuttle begun its 12-day mission to the International Space Station with a dramatic night-time launch

　　美国东部时间9日晚夜间发射成功后，美国发现号航天飞机开始了它为期12天的飞往国际空间站的航行。

2、It was the first night take-off since before the 2003 Columbia disaster when all seven astronauts on board died

　　这是自2003年哥伦比亚号航天飞机失事后的第一次夜间发射。

3、The skies around the Kennedy Space Centre were lit up for miles around...

　　佛罗里达州的肯尼迪航天中心附近的天空在发射的一瞬间被点亮了……

4、... and Florida residents were treated to some astonishing views as the shuttle soared into orbit

　　发现号进入轨道时，佛罗里达居民看到了令人惊叹的场景。

5、Among the crew of seven was Dr Nicholas Patrick (centre), who becomes only the fourth Briton ever to fly into space.

　　7名宇航员中中间这位是尼古拉斯·帕特里克博士，他已经成为英国人历史上第四位飞上太空的人。

6、Also on board was the European Space Agency's Christer Fuglesang, who becomes the first Swede in space.

　　另外一位是欧洲航天局航员克里斯特·富格莱桑，他是瑞典“飞天”第一人。

7、But blustery winds cleared the skies as night fell, and after a two-hour fuelling delay Discovery blasted off

　　夜幕降临时天气不佳，在延迟了两小时之后，发现号终于成功发射。

8、The crew will spend the mission wiring the International Space Station up to a permanent power source, returning home with German astronaut Thomas Reiter, one of the station's three existing crew members. He will be replaced by American Sunita Williams, who will stay for six months

　　发现号和国际空间站成功对接将为空间站提供永久能量补充，德国宇航员托马斯·莱特返回地面，美国宇航员苏尼塔·威廉姆斯将在空间站驻留6个月时间。