The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word SPACE-AGE
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
S
P
A
C
E
-
A
G
E
Buddy explains!
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 SPACE-AGE mean?
SPACE-AGE noun- The period from the about the time of the launch of Sputnik in 1957 to the present day, during which man ventured into space.
- Redolent of the space age; appearing futuristic or modern.