spacecraft

American  

[speys-kraft, -krahft] / ˈspeɪsˌkræft, -ˌkrɑft /

noun

spacecraft plural

1. a vehicle designed for travel or operation in space beyond the earth's atmosphere or in orbit around the earth.

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spacecraft British  

/ ˈspeɪsˌkrɑːft /

noun

1. a manned or unmanned vehicle designed to orbit the earth or travel to celestial objects for the purpose of research, exploration, etc

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• spacecraft
  plural

Etymology

Origin of spacecraft

First recorded in 1955–60; space + craft

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

There’s the occasional startling interruption of tour guides speaking in the hall outside his office as they lead groups through JPL’s Spacecraft Assembly Facility.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 26, 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 that could travel at light speed were rare, and they required fuel to operate.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline

Related Words

• rocket
• shuttle
• space capsule
• space probe