spacecraft

noun

space·​craft ˈspās-ˌkraft 

: a vehicle or device designed for travel or operation outside the earth's atmosphere

Examples of spacecraft in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The spacecraft must launch when the station’s orbital plane passes over the launch site. — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 4 Oct. 2026

An explosion tore through the Apollo 13 service module, crippling the spacecraft and venting the crew’s oxygen supply into space. — Robert Pearlman, ArsTechnica, 3 Oct. 2026

Along with the rockets and spacecraft that transport them into orbit, satellites are constantly bombarded with fast moving particles that travel through space called cosmic rays. — Andrea Richard, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2026

Well, the agency hopes that PRIMA can fill the gap in infrared spacecraft observations. — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1929, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for spacecraft

• allograft
• autograft
• autographed
• countershaft
• handicraft
• homograft
• hovercraft
• lithographed
• overdraft
• photographed
• rotorcraft
• telegraphed

Kids Definition

spacecraft

noun

space·​craft ˈspā-ˌskraft 

plural spacecraft

: a vehicle for travel beyond the earth's atmosphere