By Rajesh Mirchandani, California, USA

媒体英语会带大家一起学习BBC撰稿人在报道世界大事时常用到的单词和短语。

Background: 维珍集团总裁 Richard Branson 向公众展示了世界上第一艘商业载人宇宙飞船。等通过严格的试航测试以后，六名乘客将有机会登上这艘子弹型飞船，真正感受宇宙旅行的刺激。

It's 60 feet (18.3 metres) long, made of lightweight, fuel-efficient material and can carry eight people out of this world and back.

The first commercial spaceship was unveiled by Sir Richard Branson, who hopes to start passenger trips within two years. The price tag: £130,000 (1.4 million yuan).

"In time we hope to get that price down and down and down so that, you know, one day, people can think: 'Shall I take my family on holiday to the Caribbean or maybe we should try space travel this year?' That's our aim."

Those that can pay will get the ultimate three-hour thrill ride. The spaceshiprockets to 62 miles above the earth's surface. Passengers will feel weightless for up to five minutes before heading down through the atmosphere and gliding back to earth.

Organisers say some 300 have already signed up. Space, as a tourist destination, may be one step closer.

• california [,kæli´fɔ:njə]   n.加利福尼亚   (初中英语单词)
• background [´bækgraund]   n.背景；经历；幕后   (初中英语单词)
• commercial [kə´mə:ʃəl]   a.商业的 n.广告节目   (初中英语单词)
• holiday [´hɔlidi]   n.假日，假期，节日   (初中英语单词)
• thrill [θril]   v.震惊；激动；刺激   (初中英语单词)
• atmosphere [´ætməsfiə]   n.大气；空气；气氛   (初中英语单词)
• ultimate [´ʌltimit]   a.最终的 n.终极；顶点   (高中英语单词)
• tourist [´tuərist]   n.游客，观光者   (高中英语单词)
• destination [,desti´neiʃən]   n.目标地   (高中英语单词)