spaceplane
1
7.1
- noun
- /ˈspeɪsˌpleɪn/
- Specialized
:
nave espacial
- Developing a safe and reliable spaceplane will significantly reduce the cost of accessing outer space.
- a reusable spaceplane
- spaceplane development
Examples
-
Henry carefully explained that this was the only way a spaceplane burning jet fuel and hydrogen peroxide—the least expensive and most environmentally benign rocket fuel—could fly to the Moon and back.
Fiction book (2001) -
The government plans to launch a new spaceplane designed to take astronauts to the International Space Station.
-
The spaceplane shot into the sky at an acute angle.
Fiction book (2001) -
"This spaceplane poses no more danger on its flight path than any other existing plane!"
Fiction book (2001) -
Congress voted to build these spaceplanes during the war.
Fiction book (2001) -
The whole crew was clustered around the spaceplane, probably doing the final preflight check prior to the engine test.
Fiction book (2001) -
Called snap-on solids, these engines would give the spaceplane the additional thrust needed to reach the Moon.
Fiction book (2001) -
He took a closer look at the spaceplane and smiled for the first time since he'd arrived.
Fiction book (1999) -
The spaceplane's shadow stretched across the tarmac, crisp as a new hundred-dollar bill.
Fiction book (2001) -
Efforts at NASA toward a reusable spaceplane began with George Mueller, the associate administrator for manned space flight.
Academic text (2011)
Synonyms
69
4.2
A reusable vehicle with wings that carries people and cargo to space and returns to Earth
4
3.5
A machine built to travel in outer space, like a spacecraft or satellite
How Space-Capable
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
The word spaceplane combines space ('outer space') and plane ('airplane'), so picture a normal plane that keeps flying up into space. That's why a spaceplane is a vehicle made to fly both in Earth's sky and in outer space.