orbiter

noun

or·​bit·​er ˈȯr-bə-tər 

: one that orbits: such as

a

: a spacecraft designed to orbit a celestial body without landing on its surface

b

: space shuttle

Examples of orbiter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The orbiters photographed the large farms — known as concentrated animal feeding operations, or CAFOs — during snowy Wisconsin winters. —Bennet Goldstein, Journal Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2024

Sign up What next? NASA is scheduled to launch its Europa Clipper orbiter in October to gather more data from Jupiter's moon, and the European Space Agency's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer is expected to arrive in Europa's neighborhood in 2031. —Peter Weber, theweek, 5 Mar. 2024

The orbiters were the first reusable spacecraft that launched into space like a rocket, moved in low-Earth orbit like a spacecraft, and landed back on Earth like an airplane on a runway, according to NASA. —Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 28 May 2024

Horsehead Nebula's iconic 'mane' is seen in stunning detail in new Webb images: See photos China launches lunar probe, looking to be 1st nation to get samples from far side of moon An orbiter captured images of 'spiders' on Mars in Inca City. —Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 13 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

orbit entry 3 + -er entry 2

First Known Use

1951, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

orbiter

noun

or·​bit·​er ˈȯr-bət-ər 

1

: one that orbits

2

: space shuttle