Zond

American  

[zawnd] / zɔnd /

noun

1. one of a series of Soviet space probes that photographed the moon and returned to earth.

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Zond British  

/ zɒnd /

noun

1. any of a series of unmanned Soviet spacecraft, first launched in 1964 as interplanetary space probes, the most successful of which, Zond 3 , sent back photographs of the hidden side of the moon in 1965

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Etymology

Origin of Zond

First recorded in 1964; from Russian: originally, “surgical probe,” from French sonde “plumb line”; z- perhaps due to German Sonde (from French ); see origin at sonde

Example Sentences

By then, Zond 6 was on its way — uncrewed, but who knew what might be next.

From New York Times • Dec. 21, 2018

Zond 5 was launched on September 14, 1968, carrying the first living species to be propelled toward the Moon.

From Salon • Dec. 21, 2018

In 1968 the Russians pressed on with the Zond program, achieving their most unusual success yet.

From Salon • Dec. 21, 2018

It was waiting to be outfitted with a Zond spacecraft.

From Scientific American • Jul. 8, 2014

Zond, it was revealed, re-entered the atmosphere on a simple ballistic trajectory, steep enough to heat the craft to levels that only instruments, not humans, could safely withstand.

From Time Magazine Archive