space shuttle: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical / Journalistic
Quick answer
What does “space shuttle” mean?
A reusable spacecraft designed to transport astronauts and cargo between Earth and orbit, which launches like a rocket and lands like an unpowered glider.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A reusable spacecraft designed to transport astronauts and cargo between Earth and orbit, which launches like a rocket and lands like an unpowered glider.
A vehicle system (such as the NASA Space Shuttle program, 1981-2011) comprising an orbiter, external fuel tank, and solid rocket boosters, used for satellite deployment, space station construction, and scientific research.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical difference. Spelling conventions apply to related terms (e.g., 'programme' vs. 'program'). The NASA program is equally referenced in both varieties.
Connotations
In both varieties, strongly associated with NASA's historical program, technological achievement, and occasionally with tragedy (Challenger, Columbia disasters).
Frequency
Higher frequency in American English due to the US origin of the program, but the term is standard in international English for the concept.
Grammar
How to Use “space shuttle” in a Sentence
The space shuttle [verb, e.g., launched, landed, carried, deployed][Possessive, e.g., NASA's] space shuttlespace shuttle [proper noun, e.g., Endeavour]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “space shuttle” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The concept was to shuttle personnel to the space station.
- They planned to shuttle experiments to the lab.
American English
- The system was designed to shuttle satellites into orbit.
- We need a vehicle that can shuttle crews regularly.
adjective
British English
- The space-shuttle programme was a milestone.
- He had a space-shuttle model on his desk.
American English
- The space-shuttle program ended in 2011.
- She studied space-shuttle thermal tiles.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in aerospace industry contexts discussing reusable launch systems or historical programs.
Academic
Common in history of technology, engineering, and physics papers discussing manned spaceflight from the 1980s-2010s.
Everyday
Used in general news and discussions about space exploration history. Not a term for contemporary spacecraft for most speakers.
Technical
Precise term for a specific class of reusable, winged launch systems. Used in aerospace engineering and policy.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “space shuttle”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “space shuttle”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “space shuttle”
- Using 'space shuttle' generically for any modern crewed spacecraft (e.g., Crew Dragon, Soyuz).
- Misspelling as a single word: 'spaceshuttle'.
- Confusing 'space shuttle' (the orbiter vehicle) with the entire launch stack (which includes boosters and tank).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, NASA's Space Shuttle program ended in 2011. Current crewed missions (e.g., SpaceX's Crew Dragon) use capsule designs, not winged, reusable orbiters.
It comes from the weaving term for a device that carries thread back and forth. Here, it metaphorically describes a vehicle making repeated trips between two points (Earth and space).
A rocket is a general term for a vehicle propelled by rocket engines. The space shuttle used rockets to launch but was a specific system where the winged orbiter was reusable, while its large fuel tank and boosters were partially reusable or expendable.
Not commonly. The word 'space shuttle' itself is a noun. The base word 'shuttle' can be used as a verb (e.g., 'to shuttle between cities'), but 'to space shuttle' is not standard usage.
A reusable spacecraft designed to transport astronauts and cargo between Earth and orbit, which launches like a rocket and lands like an unpowered glider.
Space shuttle is usually technical / journalistic in register.
Space shuttle: in British English it is pronounced /ˈspeɪs ˌʃʌt.əl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈspeɪs ˌʃʌt̬.əl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “"It's not rocket science" (contrastive idiom highlighting complexity)”
- “"The final/last shuttle mission" (idiomatic for the end of an era)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a shuttle bus that runs a regular route between a city (Earth) and a destination (space). It shuttles back and forth, reusable for many trips.
Conceptual Metaphor
SPACECRAFT IS AN AEROPLANE (it has wings, a cockpit, and lands on a runway). TRANSPORT TO SPACE IS COMMUTING (regular, scheduled trips).
Practice
Quiz
What is the defining characteristic of a 'space shuttle' compared to other crewed spacecraft?