The Hubble telescope was launched into space by NASA on April 20,1990 at a cost of over a billion dollars.

NASA = National Aeronautics and Space Administration ^{(美国)国家航空和宇宙航行局（单词縮写一般都是组织或者机构）}

• The growth mainly came from China's forest protection programs, NASA said.^{NASA 说，增长主要来自于中国的森林保护计划。}

launch ^{v. 发射；发布新产品}

• The new model will be launched in July.
• The army will launch a missile for the test. ^{军队将会发射一枚导弹用于此次试验。}
• Scientists plan to launch a rocket next month. ^{科学家计划在下个月发射火箭。}
• The submarine can launch a torpedo underwater. ^{这艘潜艇可以在水下发射鱼雷。}

at a cost of … ^{造价为…，耗资，以…的价格/费用}

• He has just built a new house for his family at a cost of $10,000.
• Last year I travelled to Europe at a cost of 40,000 dollars.

Right from the start there was trouble with the Hubble.

right from the start ^{从最开始（right 起强调作用）}

• He didn’t want to work at the firm (right) from the start.
• She is here. → She is right here. 
• from the start ^从一开始 → right from the start ^自始至终

trouble with… ^{关于…有麻烦 = problems with}

• Right from the start there were problems with the Hubble. ^{可替换（注意谓语的变化）}
• What's the trouble with you? ^{你有什么麻烦? (医生常这样问)}
• There is (engine) trouble with my car. ^{伴随着麻烦}

The pictures it sent us were very disappointing because its main mirror was faulty!

…its main mirror was faulty / out of order.
~ needed / required / wanted repairing / wanted to be repaired.
~ required repairs. ^{多种替换写法}

分析长难句的步骤：

1. 准备：数谓语动词
2. 断开：标点 / 连接词 / 分析主谓

NASA is now going to put the telescope right, so it will soon be sending up four astronauts to repair it.

put sth. right ^{修好（故障等），校正，纠正}

• Remember to put the lights right tomorrow.
• Have you put the clock right? 

send up ^往上送

• They will send up another satellite into space next year.^{明年他们将发送另一颗人造卫星到太空。}
• They are determined to send up another man-made satellite.^{他们决定发射另一颗人造卫星。}

A robot-arm from the Endeavour will grab the telescope and hold it while the astronauts make the necessary repairs. ^{时间状语：主将从现}

时间状语从句 ^{（从句中用一般时代替将来时）}

• I’ll call you as soon as I get off the plane.
• Dinner will be ready when you get home.

hold it ^{抓住它（保持住；拿住）}

• Hold it tight. ^抓紧它。
• Hold it for me. ^{帮我拿着它。}
• Hold it! Don’t move. ^{站住，别动。}
• Hold it. Don’t laugh. ^{忍住，别笑出来。}

it will soon be sending us the clearest pictures of the stars and distant galaxies that we have ever seen.

the + adj.最高级 + n. + sb. + have ever done  ^{曾经做过的最xx的事。}

• It is one of the ugliest faces I have ever seen.
• 'This is the prettiest carpet I have ever seen,' she said.
• Unfortunately, the show was one of the dullest we have ever seen.

The Hubble will tell us a great deal about the age and size of the universe.

a great deal ^{大量(配合介词of、about等使用)}

• Emma, I trust your opinion a great deal.^{埃玛，我非常相信你的观点。}
• I know a great deal about space. ^{我知道很多关于太空的知识。= a lot about space}

By the time you read this, the Hubble's eagle eye will have sent us thousands and thousands of wonderful pictures.

By the time ... ^{引导时间状语从句}

1. by + 时间 ^{表示“截止到..⋯时间”，与完成时连用}
2. by the time + 句子 ^{引导时间状语从句}
3. 时间与条件状语从句中的一般现在时表将来