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

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.

From Los Angeles Times

So far we’ve only seen what might be called a simulated landing at sea, or 'splashdown'.

From BBC

Unfavorable long-range weather forecasts for the capsule’s splashdown off the Florida coast prompted additional delays.

From Los Angeles Times

No one was directly injured by the event, though the splashdown occurred in a routinely trafficked tourist route.

From Salon

Unfavorable conditions forecast off the coast of Florida for the splashdown prompted a second delay.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• accident
• collapse
• impact
• pileup
• wreck