splash down; make a water landing
Meanings
2 senses · 5 examplesverb
to splash down; (of a heavy object) to fall into a body of water
neutralGenerally describes the action of an object hitting water from a height, causing splashes. Can be accidental (e.g., a dropped tool) or intentional (e.g., aerospace).
The meteorite fell from the sky and finally splashed down in the Pacific Ocean.
The worker slipped, and the heavy wrench splashed down into the river water by the dock.
verb
(of a spacecraft, capsule, etc.) to make a planned, controlled water landing; to splash down
technicalA specific technical term in aerospace for the controlled descent and landing of a spacecraft or its return module in a body of water (usually the ocean). This is a planned and safe landing, not a crash.
The Shenzhou spacecraft's return module successfully splashed down in the designated sea area.
The splashdown and recovery of the spacecraft is a crucial part of manned spaceflight.
Show 1 more exampleShow fewer examples
Early Apollo missions often splashed down in the Pacific Ocean.