The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word ROCKETRY
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
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More clues leading to the result ROCKETRY
- Modern science development’s back in a stony place[developmen]T in ROCKERY
- Studying what’s driven up temperature in part of garden
- Little time in garden for astronautical science
- Electronic test on something solid that can help get things off the ground
- Star may be discovered by this technology item which spices up track
- Garden feature takes time, it’s supposed to be difficult
- Form of technology — something hard engineers initially attempt
- End of Star Trek coy about its technology
- Famous film about alien resistance; it is studied by NASA
- Setting temperature in garden is an applied science
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "astronautical science/astronautical science" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case astronautical science/astronautical science = rocketry.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does ROCKETRY mean?
ROCKETRY noun- The making and launching of rockets, its science and practice.