VOA慢速英语:After 30 Years, the Space Shuttle Program Retires

短语讲解：

1. But as one historic program came to an end this month, others continue to explore new worlds.

come to an end结束,终止
例句：All good things come to an end.
天下没有不散的筵席。

2. On February first, two thousand three, Columbia broke up as it reentered the atmosphere.

break up (使)破碎, 分解
例句：The workers will break up the old cars for their parts.
工人要把那些旧车拆掉取零件。

3. On January twenty-eight nineteen eighty-six, shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after take off.

take off (飞机)起飞
例句：It's exciting to feel the plane taking off.
感觉到飞机起飞令人兴奋。

4. Nor the last time we saw them this morning as they prepared for their journey and waved goodbye.

prepare for (使)为…作准备
例句：We are preparing to have negotiations with the enemy.
我们准备同敌人谈判。

5. Another historic event took place on July fifteenth.

take place发生;举行
例句：When will the basketball game take place?
篮球赛何时举行?

6. Dawn was sent to the asteroid belt in search of information that may help scientists better understand how our solar system was formed.

in search of寻找
例句：The scientists are in search of a new element
科学家们正在寻找一种新元素。
solar system太阳系

7. Many people think of asteroids as sort of little chips of rock, right?

think of有…想法, 有…看法
例句：We think of him as representing modern writers.
我们认为他是现代作家的代表。

8. Many scientists believe asteroids are space objects that never combined with other material to form a planet.

combine with与…结合
例句：If he can combine his ability with hard work, he should be very successful.
如果他能把自己的才能和勤奋结合起来, 必定会很有成就。

9. Marc Rayman says Vesta appears to have a layered structure, one that is similar to planets like Earth, Mars and Venus.

be similar to与…相似
例句：My problems are very similar to yours.
我的问题和你的差不多。

10. After Dawn has finished collecting information, it will move on to explore its next target.

move on继续前进, 继续进行, 往前走
例句：We talked about these for a while and then moved on to another house.
我们谈了一会儿之后, 就前往另一家去了。

11. Neptune is named for the Roman god of the sea.

be named for以……命名; 被指定为
例句：The college is named for George Washington.
学院以乔治．华盛顿的名字命名。

12. The other three are Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus. These planets are made up almost entirely of gas.

be made up of由…组成
例句：The audience was made up of very young children.
观众由小孩子们组成。