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

With typical gallows humour, Glaswegians dubbed it the "Death Star" after the Empire space station in the Star Wars film.

From BBC

Williams completed nine spacewalks, adding up to 62 hours and 6 minutes outside the space station.

From Science Daily

Research conducted on the space station continues to expand scientific understanding while supporting future missions beyond Earth orbit.

From Science Daily

Artemis IV and V will begin building Gateway, a small space station circling the Moon.

From BBC

"The space station is a big, complex feat of engineering, it's designed to be operated by a certain minimum level of crew," he said.

From BBC