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
This was also important for the return to Earth, because the agency didn’t want to overweight one side of the spacecraft with equipment and throw off the balance of the spacecraft during reentry and splashdown.
—
New Atlas, 6 June 2026
They are made up of a top plate and a heat shield, which is jettisoned before splashdown.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 1 June 2026
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
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New Atlas, 6 June 2026
They are made up of a top plate and a heat shield, which is jettisoned before splashdown.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 1 June 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for splashdown
Cite this Entry
“Splashdown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/splashdown. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
splashdown
noun
splash·down
ˈsplash-ˌdau̇n
: the landing of a spacecraft in the ocean
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