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

美国奋进号航天飞机开始了一次雄心勃勃的太空使命。奋进号将向国际空间站送去一个新的科学试验室和一个机器人装置。

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.

奋进号航天飞机载着7名宇航员星期二凌晨在夜色中从佛罗里达州肯尼迪太空中心发射升空。美国的航天飞机很少在夜间发射升空。国家航空航天局的官员说，这次为期16天的太空之旅是自从国际空间站项目开始以来美国航天飞机访问空间站时间最长的一次。

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.

奋进号航天飞机将向国际空间站送去由3部分组成的日本希望号太空实验室的第一部分。宇航员还将在空间站上安装一个加拿大制造的机器人装置。这个装置能在宇航员进行太空行走时予以协助，还能为空间站上的宇航员完成其它一些任务。

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."

加拿大女宇航员帕耶特说，拥有两个手臂的智能机器人装置能使机组人员为空间站完成一些精细的操作。帕耶特说：“这个装置今后可能会很有用。宇航员可能不需要进行很长的太空行走，就能为空间站更换出现故障的设备。”

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

奋进号航天飞机将把宇航员赖斯曼送到国际空间站，以便法国宇航员埃哈兹能返回地球。

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

航天飞机下一次太空使命安排在今年5月。到时候，发现号航天飞机将把日本希望号太空实验室的第二部分送到国际空间站。