Zond

[ zawnd ]

noun

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

Zond

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of Zond¹

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

Example Sentences

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

From New York Times

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

From Salon

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

From Salon

Although last week’s launch was in essence planned many months ago, it will be seen by Americans as an answer to the Russian achievement only three weeks earlier of sending the Zond 5 probe on an orbit around the Moon and its recovery in the Indian Ocean.

From Nature

In September of 1968, Soviet scientists sent two tortoises out on a shuttle called Zond 5.

From The Verge