orbiter
noun
or·bit·er
ˈȯr-bə-tər 
Examples of orbiter in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The main fire-observing orbiters used by NASA and the Forest Service get a look at the same location in the contiguous United States only a few times a day, and not always at a great angle.
—
Raymond Zhong Mark Felix, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2023
Active volcanic landscape The orbiter will use its instruments to uncover the secrets behind why a planet similar in size to Earth became covered in volcanic plains and topped with an inhospitable atmosphere.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 15 Mar. 2023
Like all orbiters, the tool bag has been labeled: 1998-067WC/58229.
—Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 15 Nov. 2023
The Endeavour orbiter will be installed no earlier than the last week of January.
—Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 10 Nov. 2023
The spaceplane measures about 29 feet (8.9 meters) long with a wingspan just shy of 15 feet (4.5 meters), about one-quarter the size of one of NASA's space shuttle orbiters.
—Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 8 Nov. 2023
The two spacecraft were made up of an orbiter and a lander.
—Christine Rousselle, Fox News, 25 July 2023
Since 1965, humankind has successfully sent over 20 missions—flybys, orbiters, landers, rovers—to survey Mars’s dusty terrains.
—Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Oct. 2023
The success of the Hope orbiter may point to more exciting science to come.
—Jonathan O’Callaghan, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2023
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Raymond Zhong Mark Felix, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2023
Active volcanic landscape The orbiter will use its instruments to uncover the secrets behind why a planet similar in size to Earth became covered in volcanic plains and topped with an inhospitable atmosphere.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 15 Mar. 2023
Like all orbiters, the tool bag has been labeled: 1998-067WC/58229.
—Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 15 Nov. 2023
The Endeavour orbiter will be installed no earlier than the last week of January.
—Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 10 Nov. 2023
The spaceplane measures about 29 feet (8.9 meters) long with a wingspan just shy of 15 feet (4.5 meters), about one-quarter the size of one of NASA's space shuttle orbiters.
—Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 8 Nov. 2023
The two spacecraft were made up of an orbiter and a lander.
—Christine Rousselle, Fox News, 25 July 2023
Since 1965, humankind has successfully sent over 20 missions—flybys, orbiters, landers, rovers—to survey Mars’s dusty terrains.
—Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Oct. 2023
The success of the Hope orbiter may point to more exciting science to come.
—Jonathan O’Callaghan, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'orbiter.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
First Known Use
1951, in the meaning defined above
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Cite this Entry
“Orbiter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/orbiter. Accessed 8 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
orbiter
noun
or·bit·er
ˈȯr-bət-ər
1
: one that orbits
2
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