spaceport

American  

[speys-pawrt, -pohrt] / ˈspeɪsˌpɔrt, -ˌpoʊrt /

noun

1. a site at which spacecraft are tested, launched, sheltered, maintained, etc.

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spaceport British  

/ ˈspeɪsˌpɔːt /

noun

1. a base equipped to launch, maintain, and test spacecraft

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Etymology

Origin of spaceport

First recorded in 1950–55; space + port ¹

Example Sentences

The spacecraft achieved lift-off on a Vega-C rocket at 0352 GMT on Tuesday from Europe's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, on the northeastern coast of South America.

From Barron's • May 19, 2026

One hundred or more could take off this year, possibly making it the busiest spaceport in the world.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2026

The site's position close to the equator was more suitable for some missions than the Russian-operated spaceport in Baikonur, Kazakhstan.

From Barron's • Feb. 18, 2026

A rocket engine has exploded during a launch test at the UK's new spaceport in Shetland.

From BBC • Aug. 19, 2024

I drew several spaceships entering and leaving his cavernous nostrils, like they were docking at a spaceport.

From "Ugly" by Robert Hoge

Related Words

• airplane
• plane
• shuttle bus
• spacecraft
• train