sounding rocket

noun

: a rocket used especially to obtain information concerning atmospheric conditions at various altitudes

Examples of sounding rocket in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The space agency blasted three sounding rockets above central and northern Alaska during an auroral substorm to study how these substorms impact the Earth's atmosphere. Michael D'estries, Travel + Leisure, 7 Apr. 2025 Two of three planned sounding rockets launched from the Poker Flat Research Range north of Fairbanks, Alaska, in the early morning hours on March 25. Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 31 Mar. 2025 At the time, one of the co-founders, Daniel Metzler, led a team of 40 students working on rocket engines and launching sounding rockets. Ars Technica, 23 Mar. 2025 The sounding rockets released vapor tracers and pressure sensors at different heights across central and northern Alaska during a sudden auroral substorm, which is a sudden, brief, and explosive intensification, or brightening, of an aurora. Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 31 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sounding rocket

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1945, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sounding rocket was circa 1945

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Cite this Entry

“Sounding rocket.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sounding%20rocket. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.

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