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

While SpaceX recently completed the 12th flight test of its Starship, with the upper stage making a picture-perfect splashdown in the Indian Ocean, its first-stage rocket made an unscheduled kamikaze dive into the Gulf of Mexico after its 33 engines failed to reignite for a boost-back burn. —Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026

The system relied on an 11-parachute sequence to safely decelerate the capsule carrying a crew of four astronauts from over 25,000 mph in space to a gentle 20 mph splashdown. —Pat Maio, Oc Register, 29 May 2026

Super Heavy was supposed to make a soft splashdown of its own, in the Gulf of Mexico. —Mike Wall, Space.com, 27 May 2026

Last week SpaceX tested an improved version of Starship that will be the basis of its candidate lander in a largely successful suborbital launch and splashdown in the Indian Ocean. —Dan Vergano, Scientific American, 27 May 2026

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