The science and technology of space travel and exploration, particularly as developed and practiced by the Soviet/Russian space program.
From Russian kosmonaut (universe sailor) + -ics (noun-forming suffix). The term emerged during the Soviet space race as a distinctly Russian terminology for space exploration.
Cosmonautics gave the world Yuri Gagarin as the first human in space in 1961, and this Russian term became iconic during the Cold War as proof that space exploration wasn't just American—it was a global human achievement.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.