splashdown

[splash-doun]

noun

1. the landing of a space vehicle in a body of water, especially the ocean.

   The footage of Apollo 11's splashdown was seen by millions across the United States.

2. the exact place where such a landing is made.

   The splashdown is expected to be American Samoa.

3. the time of such a landing.

   The splashdown was 2:04 p.m.

verb phrase

1. (of a spacecraft or an astronaut) to land in a body of water, especially the ocean.

   The crew of Expedition 55 splashed down in the Pacific Ocean exactly as predicted at 10:43 this morning.

splashdown

/ ˈsplæʃˌdaʊn /

noun

1. the controlled landing of a spacecraft on water at the end of a space flight

2. the time scheduled for this event

verb

1. (intr, adverb) (of a spacecraft) to make a splashdown

Word History and Origins

Origin of splashdown¹

First recorded in 1955–60; splash ( def. ) + down ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

Over the course of about an hour, the Super Heavy booster successfully separated from Starship and made a soft splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico.

Read more on MarketWatch

It plunged into the Gulf of Mexico rather than making the planned controlled splashdown.

Read more on BBC

Their SpaceX capsule made a fast and fiery re-entry through the Earth's atmosphere, before four parachutes opened to take them to a gentle splashdown off the coast of Florida.

Read more on BBC

It was due to make a controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean roughly an hour after its launch from Boca Chica, Texas.

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The uncrewed spacecraft was sent on its way to a splashdown in the Indian Ocean, while the booster returned to earth less than seven minutes later.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• accident 
• collapse 
• impact 
• pileup 
• wreck