downrange

American  

[doun-reynj, doun-reynj] / ˈdaʊnˌreɪndʒ, ˈdaʊnˈreɪndʒ /

adjective

Rocketry.

1. being in the designated path from a launch pad to the point on a course generally taken as the target.

   The signal was picked up by a downrange radar station.

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downrange British  

/ ˈdaʊnˈreɪndʒ /

adjective

1. in the direction of the intended flight path of a rocket or missile

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Etymology

Origin of downrange

First recorded in 1950–55; down ¹ + range

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

downrange

The first, the “rough braking” phase, began when the spacecraft was 30 kilometers above the moon in its orbit and about 750 km downrange from its landing site.

From Scientific American ● Aug. 23, 2023

“My children were downrange of many guns, and they screamed through the whole process. The committee should know they were traumatized,” Mr. Houck told the House Judiciary subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government.

From Washington Times ● May 16, 2023

Tomlinson, in particular, said he feared for his safety, since his farm sits downrange from a backstop for bullets on Bell’s property that he called “totally ineffective.”

From Washington Post ● Dec. 27, 2022

Eagle: “Our position check downrange shows us to be a little off.”

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 17, 2019

I climbed out of the blockhouse and caught sight of the wisp of its contrail as it fell downrange.

From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam