astronautics

noun

as·​tro·​nau·​tics ˌa-strə-ˈnȯ-tiks 

-ˈnä-

plural in form but singular or plural in construction

: the science of the construction and operation of vehicles for travel in space beyond the earth's atmosphere

astronautic

ˌa-strə-ˈnȯ-tik 

-ˈnä-

adjective

or astronautical

ˌa-strə-ˈnȯ-ti-kəl 

-ˈnä-

astronautically

ˌa-strə-ˈnȯ-ti-k(ə-)lē 

-ˈnä-

adverb

Word History

Etymology

astro- + -nautics (in aeronautics), after French astronautique

Note: The word astronautique was introduced by the French aviator and aircraft designer Robert Esnault-Pelterie in "L'exploration par fusées de la très haute atmosphère et la possibilité des voyages interplanétaires," published as a supplement to the March, 1928 issue of L'Astronomie: revue mensuelle d'astronomie … et Bulletin de la Société Astronomique de France, and also as an independent monograph. The word also occurs in an article in the February issue of the journal, "Le 'Prix Rep-Hirsch' et les problèmes de l'astronautique," pp. 57-59. As stated on p. 59, it was coined by the science fiction and fantasy author J. H. Rosny aîné (pen name of Joseph Henri Honoré Boëx, 1856-1940). The occasion was a dinner attended by a group of scientists and aviation enthusiasts, held in Paris on the evening of December 26, 1927, at the conclusion of which a prize was established to be awarded to the best new work in astronautique, a name suggested by Rosny. (For details see Woodford A. Heflin, "Astronautics," American Speech, vol. 36, no. 3 [October, 1961], pp. 169-74.) The word astronautique was rendered in English as astronautics in an unsigned article "Astronautics," in the New York Times (March 8, 1928, p. 24). In the same article the word astronaut is used.

First Known Use

1928, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for astronautics

• aeronautics
• probiotics
• semiotics
• antibiotics
• antipsychotics
• epizootics
• xenobiotics
• aquatics
• exotics
• hypnotics
• narcotics
• neurotics

Kids Definition

astronautics

noun

as·​tro·​nau·​tics ˌas-trə-ˈnȯt-iks 

-nät-

: the science of the construction and operation of spacecraft