splashdown

noun

splash·​down ˈsplash-ˌdau̇n 

plural splashdowns

: the landing of a crewed spacecraft in the ocean

splash down intransitive verb

Examples of splashdown in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Ditto for the splashdown, in which actual parachutes and a prop capsule were tossed out of a helicopter to shoot the scene. —ArsTechnica, 29 June 2025

Their return is scheduled sometime during the second week of July, and will be dependent, in part, on weather in the Dragon's splashdown zone. —Josh Dinner, Space.com, 25 June 2025

The Dragon capsule, developed by Elon Musk's commercial spaceflight company to deliver cargo and crews to the orbital outpost, will then embark on a long voyage ending with a splashdown landing Friday, May 23, off the coast of California. —Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 22 May 2025

The mission aims to dock with the station the day after launch and then spend about two weeks on board before returning for splashdown off the California coast. —Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1959, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for splashdown

• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown
• godown
• hometown

Kids Definition

splashdown

noun

splash·​down ˈsplash-ˌdau̇n 

: the landing of a spacecraft in the ocean