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

Starship's first-stage booster, known as Super Heavy, will make a splashdown of its own in the Gulf of Mexico. — Mike Wall, Space.com, 24 Sep. 2026

Previous test flights have achieved milestones like booster recovery, deploying satellites, and successful splashdowns. — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2026

The spacecraft unexpectedly remained intact after splashdown in the Indian Ocean last month, prompting SpaceX officials to come up with an ad hoc plan to recover the vehicle. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 21 Aug. 2026

The festival also featured food trucks, vendors and a watch party to view the splashdown. — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 6 Aug. 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