VOA慢速英语:NASA Astronauts Train for Commercial Space Flights

短语讲解：

1. Boeing, the aircraft manufacturer, says its CST-100 Starliner will start flying human crews to the International Space Station by the end of next year.

by the end of 到…为止
例句：By the end of the game, the stadium was almost vacant.
到比赛结束的时候,体育馆几乎空了。

2. The United States no longer uses its reusable space shuttle to send astronauts into space.

no longer 不再，已不
例句：The mine is no longer being worked.
这座煤矿现在已不开采了。

3. The last shuttle flight took place in 2011.

take place 发生，举行
例句：His graduation will never take place if he doesn't get to work.
如果他不下功夫，就永远不会毕业。

4. “You know, it is like learning how to drive a car, except for now you are learning how to drive a spaceship.”

except for 除…之外; 若不是
例句：Except for a few fine days, the summer has been wet.
除了少数几个晴天外，整个夏季老是下雨。

5. The space agency is using a number of flight simulators.

a number of 一些; 许多的
例句：Difficulties arise in a number of ways.
难度表现在许多方面。