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1、单元一1TheWorld’sFirstSpaceTourist(A)OnMay6,2001,DennisTito,a61-year-oldCaliforniamillionaireandformerNASAengineer,becametheworld’sfirstpayingspacetouristwhentheRussianspaceagencylaunchedhimandtwoRussiancosmonautsaboardarocketforajourneytotheInternationalSpaceStation.Titoandthecrewblastedofffr
2、omthecosmodromeinKazakstanontime.Titoappearedcalm,wearingaspacesuitandasmile.ThetripbytheRussiancrewwasalmostdelayedduetoconcernsexpressedbyNASAthatthespacestationwouldgettoocrowdedwhileanAmericancrewdidsomenecessarycomputerrepairs.FortunatelyforTito,NASAsaidFridaythatithadstruckadealwithth
3、eRussianSpaceAgency,allowinghimtolaunchontimewithoutinterruptingtheAmericancrew'sworkontheailingInternationalSpaceStation.TitopaidtheRussianspaceagency$20milliontoflyinspace,butRussia’spartnersinthespacestation--especiallyNASA-•objected,sayinghislackoftrainingwouldrequireadditionalsafetymea
4、sures.TitohasbeentrainingattheStarCity,Russiaspacecenter,forayear,learningthedetailsofaSoyuzspacecraftandpracticinghowtosurvivealandinginSiberia.Justdaysbeforethelaunch,heproclaimedthathewaswellprepared.Hesaid,"ThetrainingiswhatcountsandI’vehadasignificantamountoftraining.Andthat,Ithink,cou
5、pledwithmyaerospaceengineeringbackground,putsmeinaverystrongposition,asfarasbeingabletofunctioninspace.••Titohasnodutiesduringthemission.Hetoldreporters:"I’mnotafighterpilot,I’mabusinessman,andIwanttobeabletoabsorbasmuchofthisexperienceandrelateittoasmanypeopleasIcan."Hesaidhewouldtakepictu
6、resandtellpeopleabouttheexperienceuponhisreturn.TitosayshislaunchaboardaRussianrocketandsix-daystayontheInternationalSpaceStationdemonstratesthatanyonecan-•andshould--experiencespace.TheWorld’sFirstSpaceTourist(B)DennisTitoistheoldestchildofworking-classItalianimmigrantswhoseancestorscamefr
7、omthetownofTitoinsouthernItaly.Hisfatherwasaprinter,andhismotherwasaseamstress.WhilegrowingupinQueens,N.Y.,Titobecameinterestedinspacetravel.HesayshedreamedofspaceflightwhenhesawSputniklaunchasateenagerin1957.Yes,itwasSputnikthatsparkedhisteenageimaginat