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 company has designed Blue Ring for many applications, including its use as a Mars telecommunications orbiter. —Josh Dinner, Space.com, 17 Mar. 2026

Among them, a European Space Agency orbiter bound for Jupiter spotted and imaged 3I/ATLAS toward the end of 2025. —Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 4 Mar. 2026

But data from orbiters showed that the far side is completely different, leading to questions that have loomed large for scientists since the missions ended. —Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 21 Feb. 2026

Much imaging of the lunar surface has been accomplished, especially at high spatial resolution, by the lunar reconnaissance orbiter camera, LROC. —Margaret Landis, The Conversation, 3 Feb. 2026

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