China launched its second manned space mission. sending two astronauts into orbit as it opened a new (36) in its ambitious drive to become a (37) space power.
Shenzhou VI, based on Soviet Soyuz technology, lifted off on a Long March 2F carrier rocket from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center at 9:00am (01:00 GMT) for a five-day mission carrying air force pilots Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng.
It entered a (38) orbit 21 minutes later.
Having two (39) on board is a departure from October 2003, when Yang Liwei spent 21 hours on a solo odyssey-a mission that made China only the third country after the United States and
(40) Soviet Union to achieve the feat.
Some 40 seconds after Wednesday’s launch the craft disappeared into the clouds, but a camera on board showed Nie (41) as the launch centre said lift off and all signals were "normal".
"I feel good," said Fei in his first (42) from the craft.
Fei, 40, and Nie, 41, were seen off by Premier Wen Jiabao, who was at the launch pad to drum up nationalistic sentiment, saying he believed "the astronauts will accomplish the (43) and sacred mission".
"(44) " Wen said, adding that the whole country expects "their victorious return from the mission".
(45) , Xinhua news agency reported.
The fact that Wednesday’s mission carried two astronauts reflects (46)
【参考答案】
The fact that Wednesday’s mission carried two astronauts ref......