reentry

American  

[ree-en-tree] / riˈɛn tri /

Also re-entry,

noun

• reentries
  plural

1. an act of reentering.

2. the return from outer space into the earth's atmosphere of an earth-orbiting satellite, spacecraft, rocket, or the like.

3. Law. the retaking of possession under a right reserved in a prior conveyance.

4. Also called reentry card.  Bridge, Whist. a card that will win a trick enabling one to regain the lead previously lost, especially the lead from a particular hand.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• reentries
  plural

Etymology

Origin of reentry

late Middle English word dating back to 1425–75; see origin at re-, entry

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

reentry reentries

Waiving such environmental protection requirements would allow approvals to be expedited "to launch rockets, reenter spacecraft, and operate launch and reentry sites," the FAA said.

From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026

Plans are in the works for a variety of unique, ancillary creations including a 15-second slide that mimics the path of reentry as a space shuttle descends back into Earth’s atmosphere.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 24, 2026

Estelle, who’s long held permanent resident status in the U.S., is a veteran at navigating the reentry process when she returns from visiting relatives in her native France.

From Salon ● May 14, 2026

During reentry, the spacecraft traveled at nearly 35 times the speed of sound, relying on its thermal protection system to shield both the crew and vehicle.

From Science Daily ● May 4, 2026

He understood—indeed, it was a crucial aspect of the collaboration—that Jefferson’s eventual reentry into the political arena depended upon sustaining the fiction in his mentor’s own mind that it would never happen.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

The reviews study the impact of rocket launches and reentries on surrounding wildlife and their habitats, but industry officials complain they take too long.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026

The FAA expects 214 launches or spacecraft reentries during the current government fiscal year, a number expected to jump to more than 500 in a decade.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

The problem, simply put, is that much of what goes up eventually comes back down in the form of defunct rocket boosters and satellites experiencing fiery atmospheric reentries or even crash landings.

From Scientific American ● Jul. 29, 2022

The growth of the commercial space industry, and with it the number of launches and reentries, has raised concern among airlines that disruptions will become more frequent.

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 8, 2021

Sometimes I got inside it with Neil and Buzz and we practiced things like launches and reentries, where all three of us would be together.

From "Flying to the Moon: An Astronaut's Story" by Michael Collins