[originaltext]W: Today we have with us Dr Michael White, a space scientist, to

W: Today we have with us Dr Michael White, a space scientist, to tell us about a new space plane that British scientists are working on. Firstly, Dr White, could you tell us what the space plane looks like?
M: Well, it looks just like an ordinary plane, really. It’s about the same size as a plane, and it can carry about 50 passengers.
W: But it doesn’t act like an ordinary plane, does it?
M: No, it’s much faster. For example, you could fly from London to Beijing in only 30 minutes.
W: My goodness! And how does it work?
M: Well, shortly after taking off, the plane leaves the earth’s atmosphere and goes into orbit around the earth until it returns to the ground.
W: So it’s really a kind of space rocket.
M: Not really, no, for two reasons. First, a space rocket can only be used once, but this space plane can be used for many times. Second, while the plane is traveling through the atmosphere, the pilot can fly it just like an ordinary plane.
W: It sounds very exciting.