ScienceAugust 5, 2026
droneship
DROHN-ship
Definition
An autonomous or remotely operated vessel used as a landing platform for rocket first-stage boosters at sea.
Etymology
A compound word derived from 'drone' (a pilotless aircraft) and 'ship' (a large seagoing vessel). The term emerged in the 21st century to specifically describe the specialized platforms developed by aerospace companies like SpaceX for marine booster recovery.
In the news
In the article, droneships are frequently mentioned as the oceanic landing sites for SpaceX's reusable Falcon 9 boosters, highlighting how these vessels facilitate the company's high-frequency launch schedule.
Space Coast launch schedule:
Read the full article ↗Orlando Sentinel