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

And the European Space Agency is developing EnVision, an orbiter that will study the atmosphere, interior and surface of Venus. —Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 29 Oct. 2025

In recent months, Lockheed Martin, the prime contractor for the Orion orbiter that will be the mothership for any lunar landing, has been mobilizing to put together a group of a dozen other industry players who would build a lunar lander from, essentially, off-the-shelf parts. —Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 24 Oct. 2025

CaSSIS is on board the European Space Agency’s (ESA) ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter, while the HRSC camera is on board the ESA orbiter Mars Express. —Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2025

Both orbiters create images by combining views from different channels that look at Mars in specific colors or directions. —Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2025

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