space station

American  

noun

1. an orbiting manned structure that can be used for a variety of purposes, as to assemble or service satellites, refuel spacecraft, etc.

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space station British  

noun

1. Also called: space platform.   space laboratory.  any large manned artificial satellite designed to orbit the earth during a long period of time thus providing a base for scientific and medical research in space and a construction site, launch pad, and docking arrangements for spacecraft

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space station Cultural  

1. A structure being assembled in space by an international partnership led by NASA. The space station will be a permanent habitat at which scientific and technological work can be carried out. Building a space station is considered the next step in the development and exploration of space, although there is controversy concerning its cost and the value of the research that will be carried out there.

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Other Word Forms

• space-station adjective

Etymology

Origin of space station

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

Most notably, the agency scrapped long-standing plans to build a space station orbiting the moon, called Gateway.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2026

Last year, he slashed the budget at numerous science agencies, including NASA, which shifted the agency’s priorities around Artemis, and killed the planned lunar Gateway space station that was supposed to orbit the moon.

From Salon • Apr. 7, 2026

Both have traveled to the space station before.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026

NASA's chief on Tuesday said the US space agency will invest $20 billion to develop a base on the Moon, while suspending its plans to create the lunar orbital space station known as Gateway.

From Barron's • Mar. 24, 2026

Another solution might be to build a space station, or town, in two parts: one rotating and the other stationary.

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