Cosmonautics

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The branch dedicated to the research and activities related to human voyages into space, emphasizing spacecraft mechanics and astronaut training
2. An area of science and technology that involves human exploration and habitation of space, including the management of missions and equipment
3. The study and practice of traveling and operating in outer space involving spacecraft and human missions

Etymology: "Cosmonautics" is simply "cosmonaut" with the suffix "-ics", the same ending found in "physics," "mathematics," and "aeronautics." The suffix marks a field of study or activity, so the word names the whole discipline rather than the person who travels in space. The first part, "cosmonaut," joins Greek "kosmos" (universe, order) with "nautes" (sailor), so the literal sense is something like "universe sailor." The Russian word "kosmonavt" was coined in that pattern, and the English "cosmonaut" was formed from it in the same spirit as "astronaut," which was built from Greek "astron" (star) and "nautes."

Synonyms: space science, astronautics