Meaning & use
astronautics
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountable
The science and engineering of building and flying vehicles and systems that travel beyond Earth's atmosphere.
Grammar: Used with a singular verb; it has no plural form, like physics or mathematics.
Patterns
- astronautics is ...
- the field of astronautics
- a degree in astronautics
Astronautics is the branch of engineering that deals with the design and operation of spacecraft.
She studied astronautics and later worked on a Mars mission.
Advances in astronautics have made long-duration spaceflight possible.
noununcountable
The activity or practice of traveling and working in space.
Grammar: Also used with a singular verb; refers to the practical side rather than the academic field.
Patterns
- the history of astronautics
- pioneers in astronautics
The history of astronautics is full of daring first attempts.
Pioneers in astronautics had to solve problems no one had faced before.
Common combinations
- the field of astronautics
- The field of astronautics has grown rapidly since the 1960s.
- advances in astronautics
- Advances in astronautics have lowered the cost of launching satellites.
- a degree in astronautics
- He earned a degree in astronautics from a technical university.
- astronautics engineer
- An astronautics engineer designs the systems that keep a crew alive in orbit.
Synonyms and how they differ
- space engineering
- A more everyday phrase for the same practical field; it sounds less formal than astronautics.
- rocketry
- Focuses specifically on rockets and their propulsion, while astronautics covers the whole spacecraft and mission.
Word family
- astronaut noun
- A person who travels and works in space.
- astronautical adjective
- Relating to astronautics or space travel.
- astronautically adverb
- In a way that relates to astronautics.
Commonly confused: astronautics or astronomy?
astronautics vs astronomy
Astronomy is the scientific study of objects and events in space, while astronautics is the engineering of traveling and working there.
Practice
Which sentence uses astronautics correctly?
Choose one answer.
Astronautics is an uncountable noun naming a field of study, so it fits 'studying astronautics' with a singular verb. The other options treat it as a plural count noun or a verb, which is wrong.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “astronautics”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.