orbiter

[ awr-bi-ter ]

/ ˈɔr bɪ tər /

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noun U.S. Aerospace.

Also called space shuttle orbiter. the crew- and payload-carrying component of the space shuttle.

a space probe designed to orbit a planetary body or moon.

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Compare lander.

Origin of orbiter

An Americanism dating back to 1950–55; orbit + -er¹

Words nearby orbiter

orbital process, orbital quantum number, orbital sander, orbital velocity, orbiteer, orbiter, Orbiting Astronomical Observatory, Orbiting Geophysical Observatory, Orbiting Solar Observatory, orbitography, orbitonasal

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use orbiter in a sentence

The mission plans to study the atmosphere with an orbiter named Hope and its three key instruments.
The UAE’s Hope probe is about to arrive at Mars in a historic first|Neel Patel|February 9, 2021|MIT Technology Review
Another mission, the Europa Clipper, that’s already underway will take higher-resolution images when the orbiter visits the Jovian moon later this decade, which should help clarify the issue.
How future spacecraft might handle tricky landings on Venus or Europa|Lisa Grossman|December 23, 2020|Science News
The samples were stored on an ascent vehicle that brought them back to an orbiter on December 6.
China just brought moon rocks back to Earth for the first time in its history|Neel Patel|December 16, 2020|MIT Technology Review
Researchers led by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency have already developed designs and demonstrated an orbiter system which should be able to do this.
Solar Power Stations in Space Could Be the Answer to Our Energy Needs|Amanda Jane Hughes|November 27, 2020|Singularity Hub

Once the material is scooped up, the sample will be stored onto an ascent vehicle that will ferry it back to the orbiter flying above.
China launches its first mission to bring moon rocks back to Earth|Neel Patel|November 23, 2020|MIT Technology Review
However, the probe stayed in contact with the Rosetta orbiter and has already sent back some photos.
Earthlings, We Landed on a Comet|Matthew R. Francis|November 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The basic approach went as planned: after separating from the Rosetta orbiter, Philae coasted slowly to the comet surface.
Earthlings, We Landed on a Comet|Matthew R. Francis|November 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for orbiter

orbiter

/ (ˈɔːbɪtə) /

noun

a spacecraft or satellite designed to orbit a planet or other body without landing on itCompare lander

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

orbiter

Origin of orbiter

Words nearby orbiter

Words related to orbiter

How to use orbiter in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for orbiter