moonship

English

Alternative forms

• moon ship, moon-ship

Etymology

From moon +‎ ship.

Noun

moonship (plural moonships)

1. (astronautics, science fiction) A spaceship designed for travelling to the Moon.
   • 1969 November, Arthur Fisher, “Science Newsfront: Last-minute news and notes to keep you up-to-date”, in Popular Science, volume 195, number 5, pages 22–24:

     The space agency has requested the Lockheed Missiles & Space Co. to develop a method for controlling trace contaminants inside a spacecraft. […] Unlike the Earth's atmosphere, the air inside a moonship doesn't get cleaned by rains or winds.

   • 1971, Gwen White, Antique Toys And Their Background, page 144:

     Other kits were for making aeroplanes, one a scale model of the Scandinavian Air Lines Douglas D.C.-8 which was expected to make the first flight from Britain to Los Angeles in April 1960. There was also a moonship of a type which the firm said will eventually reach the moon: all of which goes to show that sometimes toys precede the actual event and are not necessarily mementoes which come afterwards.

Further reading

• Jesse Sheidlower, editor (2001–2024), “moon ship, n.”, in Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction.