國際空間站的一名美國宇航員上周五從太空發送了首條“推特”消息，這是國際空間站內首次實現即時上網。以往，宇航員一般都是將此類信息通過電子郵件形式傳回休斯頓的太空控制中心。現在，國際空間站上的人員可以使用空間站的筆記本電腦實時上網了。美國國家航空和宇宙航行局發言表示，長時間在太空作業的宇航員，由于遠離家人和朋友，他們相當的孤獨，我們希望太空互聯網服務可以鼓舞其士氣，提高工作效率。不過，遠在太空的宇航員同樣要遵守與政府公務員一樣的互聯網使用紀律，即不能影響正常工作。

In a high-tech first, astronauts in space finally have Internet access, and on Friday they sent a tweet directly from the heavens.

In a high-tech first, astronauts in space finally have Internet access, and on Friday they sent a tweet directly from the heavens.

Space station resident Timothy Creamer had been working with flight controllers to establish Internet access from his orbital post ever since he moved in last month.

"Hello Twitterverse!" he wrote as Astro(underscore)TJ. "We r now LIVE tweeting from the International Space Station -- the 1st live tweet from Space! :) More soon, send your ?s"

Before, orbiting astronauts had to send Twitter updates by e-mail to Mission Control in Houston. Then controllers posted the tweets.

The International Space Station crew can now use an on-board laptop to reach a desktop computer at Mission Control, and thereby browse the Web. This remote Internet access is possible whenever there is a solid high-speed communication link.

It's expected to provide a big morale boost.

"Long-duration astronauts, they commit to spending months away from family and friends. It's a pretty unique state of isolation," said NASA spokesman Kelly Humphries. "We expect this to enhance morale and productivity."

The astronauts will be subject to the same Internet access guidelines as other on-the-job government employees--namely, no interfering with work.

Is NASA worried the astronauts might spend too much time online, more than 200 miles up?

"These are highly driven individuals," Humphries said with a chuckle, "so they're going to get their work done first."

The astronauts already had an Internet Protocol phone for private calls to family and friends.

Creamer is one month into a five-month mission. He is sharing the space station with another American, one Japanese and two Russians.

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(Agencies)

（中國日報網英語點津 Helen 編輯）