Lesson18 The International Space Station: A World Project 国际空间站——一项全球性工程
Scientists have built an exciting project 270 miles into space. Sixteen countries from all around the world worked together to plan and construct a permanent space station. The 16 nations included the United States,Canada,Japan,Russia,Brazil, Belgium,Denmark,France,Germany,Italy,the Netherlands,Norway,Spain,Sweden,Switzerland,and the United Kingdom. In fact, the International Space Station (ISS) is the largest international scientific project in human history.Construction on the ISS began in 1998 and was completed in 2002. Six people from different countries live on the Space Station. It has a permanent laboratory where the scientists conduct research that they cannot do on Earth. These studies will be possible because the space station is almost completely outside Earth's gravity. Some of this important research will help scientists understand more about human learning and memory. The scientists will also be able to study Earth systems such as the oceans,weather,climate,and plant growth.These systems affect the quality of life for all people today,as well as for our future generation.