undock

[ uhn-dok ]

verb (used with object)

1. to uncouple (two spacecraft modules or a spacecraft and space station).

verb (used without object)

1. (of a spacecraft module or spacecraft) to uncouple.

Word History and Origins

Origin of undock¹

First recorded in 1920–25; un- ² + dock ¹

Example Sentences

The Starliner, meanwhile, would remotely undock and return to Earth without a crew.

From Los Angeles Times

If a series of unlikely failures had occurred with the propulsion system after undocking, Mr. Wilmore and Ms. Williams could conceivably have been stranded in orbit.

From New York Times

"The undocking has taken place," Moscow mission control said.

From Reuters

The SpaceX capsule carrying the four parachuted into the Gulf of Mexico, just off the Florida Panhandle, 12 hours after undocking from the orbiting lab.

From Seattle Times

The Crew Dragon spacecraft, a gumdrop-shaped pod designed to launch atop SpaceX's Falcon 9 rockets, undocked from the space station early on Saturday morning and re-entered Earth's atmosphere around 8:11 p.m.

From Reuters