astronautics

American  

[as-truh-naw-tiks, -not-iks] / ˌæs trəˈnɔ tɪks, -ˈnɒt ɪks /

noun

(used with a singular verb)

1. the science of or technology involved in travel beyond the earth's atmosphere, including interplanetary and interstellar flight.

---

astronautics British  

/ ˌæstrəˈnɔːtɪks /

noun

1. (functioning as singular) the science and technology of space flight

---

Other Word Forms

• astronautic
  adjective
• astronautically
  adverb

---

Etymology

Origin of astronautics

First recorded in 1925–30; see origin at astronautical, -ics

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

astronautics

"There's a lot riding on this," the astronautics expert, who is now at Stanford University, told AFP.

From Barron's ● May 21, 2026

The university said it built on its "65-year heritage of education and research in space science, aeronautics and astronautics".

From BBC ● Mar. 10, 2026

Israel Kachuck, a onetime astronautics engineer and general contractor, bought more than 450 acres of mostly barren land in the 1960s and began planting avocado trees.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 30, 2025

"Just like phyllo dough flakes apart, composite layers can peel apart because this interlaminar region is the Achilles' heel of composites," says Brian Wardle, professor of aeronautics and astronautics at MIT.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 16, 2024

And let me tell you, no matter what they call it now—space probing, astronautics or what have you—it's still flying.

From What Need of Man? by Harold Calin

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---