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 groundwork laid by the rovers and other Mars orbiters, landers and probes could someday help humanity take its first steps on another planet. — Brett Tingley, Space.com, 27 July 2026

Each tile required post-flight inspections, so reuse of Space Shuttle orbiters remained expensive and time-consuming. — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 27 July 2026

Tianwen-1 is a Mars orbiter, lander and rover mission that successfully touched down on the red planet on May 15, 2021, releasing its Zhurong rover. — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026

In 2022, construction began on a new 200-foot-high building at the space center that would house the orbiter and tank upright. — Chelsea Hylton, CBS News, 24 June 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