ScienceJuly 15, 2026

astronautics

/ˌæstrəˈnɔːtɪks/

Definition

The science and technology of spaceflight and the design, operation, and navigation of spacecraft.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek 'astron' meaning 'star' and 'nautēs' meaning 'sailor,' combined with the suffix '-ics' denoting a branch of science. It was modeled on 'aeronautics' to describe the practice of navigating beyond Earth's atmosphere.

In the news

The term is used here as a categorical tag for news concerning the operations and human activities occurring on the International Space Station. It frames the arrival of new crew members as a functional exercise in spaceflight science.

Astronauts welcome new crew to International Space Station

Read the full article ↗

The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel

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