Space Shuttle Endeavour has launched on an ambitious mission to deliver a new science laboratory and robotic system to the International Space Station.

美國奮進號航天飛機開始了一次雄心勃勃的太空使命。奮進號將向國際空間站送去一個新的科學試驗室和一個機器人裝置。

The seven-person crew aboard Endeavour lifted off during a rare nighttime launch from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA officials say the 16-day space mission will include the longest shuttle visit to the International Space Station in the program's history.

奮進號航天飛機載著7名宇航員星期二凌晨在夜色中從佛羅里達州肯尼迪太空中心發射升空。美國的航天飛機很少在夜間發射升空。國家航空航天局的官員說，這次為期16天的太空之旅是自從國際空間站項目開始以來美國航天飛機訪問空間站時間最長的一次。

The Endeavour is delivering the first of three sections of a Japanese-built science station, called Kibo. Astronauts also will attach a Canadian-built robotic arm system that will assist astronauts during space walks and perform other tasks.

奮進號航天飛機將向國際空間站送去由3部分組成的日本希望號太空實驗室的第一部分。宇航員還將在空間站上安裝一個加拿大制造的機器人裝置。這個裝置能在宇航員進行太空行走時予以協助，還能為空間站上的宇航員完成其它一些任務。

Canadian astronaut Julie Payette says the two-armed Dextre system will enable crew members to carry out delicate operations on the space station. "There may be times when it will be very useful to use the robot to change out a piece of faulty equipment on the space station without having to schedule a long space walk."

加拿大女宇航員帕耶特說，擁有兩個手臂的智能機器人裝置能使機組人員為空間站完成一些精細的操作。帕耶特說：“這個裝置今后可能會很有用。宇航員可能不需要進行很長的太空行走，就能為空間站更換出現故障的設備。”

The Endeavour also is carrying astronaut Garrett Reisman who will remain on the space station, allowing French astronaut Leopold Eyharts to return to Earth.

奮進號航天飛機將把宇航員賴斯曼送到國際空間站，以便法國宇航員埃哈茲能返回地球。

The next shuttle launch is scheduled for May when Discovery is to deliver the second portion of the Kibo laboratory to the space station.

航天飛機下一次太空使命安排在今年5月。到時候，發現號航天飛機將把日本希望號太空實驗室的第二部分送到國際空間站。