thruster

[ thruhs-ter ]

noun

1. a person or thing that thrusts.
2. Fox Hunting. a rider who keeps in the front of the field.
3. Aerospace. a small rocket attached to a spacecraft and used to control its attitude or translational motion.

thruster

/ ˈθrʌstə /

noun

1. a person or thing that thrusts
2. Also calledvernier rocket a small rocket engine, esp one used to correct the altitude or course of a spacecraft
3. an auxiliary propeller on a ship, capable of acting athwartships

Word History and Origins

Origin of thruster¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; thrust + -er ¹

Example Sentences

After Russia’s new 23-ton multipurpose Nauka module docked with the ISS, it began firing its thrusters unexpectedly and without command, shifting the ISS out of its proper and normal position in orbit.

From MIT Technology Review

The module unexpectedly fired its thrusters, which shifted the multi-ton station 45 degrees outside its typical orientation.

From Washington Post

If you want your satellite to go a different orbit or trajectory, you need to install expensive thrusters that can take it there.

From MIT Technology Review

Ropes don’t need to be recharged, nor do they need software, but then again, algorithms and thrusters can perform tricks that a rope, or tagline, cannot.

From Popular-Science

“A hundred times per second, we’re computing what the best action is for these thrusters to take to stop the spin, or swing, or any type of motion,” says Derek Sikora, the CTO at Vita Inclinata.

From Popular-Science