Spaceship
/ˈspeɪsˌʃɪp/
nounB1
Definition
A spaceship is a special type of vehicle that can fly outside the Earth’s atmosphere, in space. It is made to carry astronauts (people who travel in space) or instruments to explore space. Spaceships can travel far from Earth, like to the Moon or other planets.
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See It in Action
A vehicle for traveling in outer space
- •The astronauts boarded the spaceship before takeoff.
- •The spaceship left Earth’s atmosphere and entered orbit.
- •Scientists design spaceships to explore Mars and beyond.
In stories or movies, any flying vehicle that travels between planets or stars
- •The children watched a movie about a spaceship landing on an alien planet.
- •In science fiction, spaceships often have advanced technology and special powers.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "spaceship" like "car" or "plane," but one that moves in space, not on roads or in the air.
- ✓Picture a shiny metal vehicle floating in the dark sky filled with stars, moving very fast and far from Earth.
- ✓It feels exciting and adventurous, like going on a big journey to places no one has been before.
- ✓Sounds like "space-ship" → imagine a small ship (boat) sailing in the empty space ocean.
- ✓Remember famous spaceships from movies like "Star Wars" or "Star Trek," where people travel between planets.
- ✓NOT like "airplane" (flies in Earth’s air), a spaceship flies where there is no air at all.
- ✓NOT like "rocket" (the engine part that pushes the spaceship), a spaceship is the whole vehicle that carries people or things.
- ✓NOT like "satellite" (which just moves around Earth), a spaceship can carry humans and go to many places.
Try Other Words
- •Spacecraft: a general word for any vehicle that travels in space (Use when you want a formal or technical word)
- •Shuttle: a spaceship used for short trips between Earth and space stations (Use when talking about specific types of spaceships)
- •Rocket: the vehicle or engine that launches into space (Use when focusing on the launch or engine part)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "space" (the area beyond Earth’s atmosphere) + "ship" (a vehicle that carries people or cargo)
- •Etymology: English origin, combining two simple words to describe a vehicle that travels in space
- •Historical development: The word came into use in the 20th century as humans began to explore space with machines
- •Modern usage: Used in everyday language, science, and science fiction to talk about vehicles that travel beyond Earth
Reflect & Connect
•What do you think it would feel like to travel in a spaceship far from Earth?
•How do spaceships change the way we understand our planet and the universe?
Fill in the blanks
1.The spaceship needs a strong ___ to leave Earth’s gravity and reach space.
2.Astronauts inside the spaceship wear special ___ to survive in space.
3.Unlike airplanes, a spaceship can travel where there is no ___ at all.
4.In many movies, a spaceship ___ to different planets and meets aliens.
5.The spaceship must be carefully ___ before launch to ensure safety.
6.When the spaceship reaches space, it ___ around the Earth or moves toward other planets.
7.We can learn about the universe by sending ___ and people in spaceships.