moonfall

English

Etymology

moon +‎ fall

• (astronautics): after landfall.

Noun

moonfall (usually uncountable, plural moonfalls)

1. (astronautics) Arrival on the Moon, or a moon, by spacecraft.
   • 1981, Space Manufacturing, volume 4, page 115:

     Total time to unpack the landing pod after moonfall is one working year, conducted in parallel with paving and other activities.

   • 2014, John Jackman, Wendy Wren, Nelson English: Development: Book 4, page 40:

     The first crisis the lunar explorers faced came just short of moonfall. The Apollo 11 Lunar Module, code-named “Eagle', was still 9.5 km (6 miles) up when the vital guidance computer began flashing an alarm – […]

2. (poetic) Synonym of moonset