spacecraft
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of spacecraft
Explanation
A spacecraft is a vehicle designed to travel beyond Earth's atmosphere. In 1969, the Apollo 11 lunar module was the first crewed spacecraft to land on the Moon. Rockets, space shuttles, satellites, and the International Space Station are all examples of spacecraft. Any machine, device, or vehicle that's designed to travel in outer space falls into this category, whether or not it carries humans. Spacecraft is a more scientific term than spaceship — but both words were originally used in 19th- and 20th-century science fiction.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The crew will spend their second day in space at their maximum altitude, conducting up to 40 experiments, including intersatellite laser communication between the Dragon Spacecraft and Space X’s Starlink satellite constellation.
From BBC • Sep. 10, 2024
Spacecraft launches, and returns, were once international events.
From Science Daily • Oct. 16, 2023
Spacecraft are designed to withstand the launch stresses of their chosen rocket, so switching is not simple.
From Science Magazine • Jun. 21, 2023
Spacecraft orbiting Mars, however, have captured high-resolution images that show the final chapter hasn't yet been written.
From Scientific American • Mar. 22, 2023
Spacecraft are assembled in special rooms called “white rooms” or “clean rooms.”
From "Flying to the Moon: An Astronaut's Story" by Michael Collins
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
