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

Between 1990 and 1992, NASA's Magellan orbiter mapped much of Venus' surface using a radar system specifically designed for that purpose, producing a vast archive of images that researchers continue to analyze. —Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 9 Feb. 2026

Juno, which for nine years divided its time between observing Jupiter and studying its moons, has beamed back plenty of data for scientists to comb through even after the orbiter's primary mission came to an end in 2025. —Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 5 Feb. 2026

In the meantime, there has been a steady cadence of robotic lunar orbiters and landers (Chang’e-6 returned the first-ever soil sample from the moon’s far side in 2024), soon to be followed, we’re now told, by Chinese astronauts. —IEEE Spectrum, 2 Feb. 2026

However, a fresh look at the data sent back by the Cassini robotic orbiter and another go at the sums indicates that the truth might be less oceanic and more akin to a frosty dessert. —New Atlas, 18 Dec. 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