space shuttle


noun (often initial capital letters)

any of several U.S. space vehicles consisting of a reusable manned orbiter that touches down on a landing strip after an orbital mission, two reusable solid rocket boosters that drop off after initial ascent, and an expendable external tank containing liquid propellants.

Origin of space shuttle

An Americanism dating back to 1965–70

British Dictionary definitions for space shuttle

space shuttle

noun

any of a series of reusable US space vehicles (Columbia (exploded 2003), Challenger (exploded 1986), Discovery, Atlantis, Endeavour) that can be launched into earth orbit transporting astronauts and equipment for a period of observation, research, etc, before re-entry and an unpowered landing on a runway; the first operational flight occurred in 1981 and it was taken out of service in 2011

Cultural definitions for space shuttle

space shuttle

A vehicle built by NASA that is capable of taking off from Earth, carrying a crew and a cargo into space, and returning to Earth to be used again. It is used primarily to transport a crew to an orbiting space station and to deploy and retrieve satellites.

notes for space shuttle

The space shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after liftoff in 1986. All seven crew members died in the accident.