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View synonyms for space shuttle
space shuttle
noun
, (often initial capital letters)
- any of several U.S. space vehicles consisting of a reusable manned orbiter that touches down on a landing strip after an orbital mission, two reusable solid rocket boosters that drop off after initial ascent, and an expendable external tank containing liquid propellants.
space shuttle
noun
- any of a series of reusable US space vehicles ( Columbia (exploded 2003), Challenger (exploded 1986), Discovery , Atlantis , Endeavour ) that can be launched into earth orbit transporting astronauts and equipment for a period of observation, research, etc, before re-entry and an unpowered landing on a runway; the first operational flight occurred in 1981 and it was taken out of service in 2011
space shuttle
- A vehicle built by NASA that is capable of taking off from Earth , carrying a crew and a cargo into space, and returning to Earth to be used again. It is used primarily to transport a crew to an orbiting space station and to deploy and retrieve satellites .
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Notes
The space shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after liftoff in 1986. All seven crew members died in the accident.
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Word History and Origins
Origin of space shuttle1
An Americanism dating back to 1965–70
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Example Sentences
Similar to the Space Shuttle in appearance, the diminutive X-37B is about a quarter the size of the old shuttles.
From The Daily Beast
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