orbiter
noun
or·bit·er
ˈȯr-bə-tər 
Examples of orbiter in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The spacecraft include the crew capsules of the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs in the 1960s and 70s, the space shuttle orbiters used from 1981-2011, SpaceX’s Crew Dragon that first flew in 2020 and Boeing’s Starliner, which flew once in 2024.
—
Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2026
The fleet of space shuttle orbiters supported satellite deployment and microgravity research on orbital missions of up to 17 days.
—Emily A. Margolis, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2026
Robotic spacecraft, including rovers like Perseverance and Curiosity, and a fleet of Mars orbiters have spent years scouring the surface of the red planet for a variety of purposes.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
The system’s ability to operate across different mission modes—from orbiters to descent probes and aerial platforms—further enhances its versatility and scientific value.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 30 Mar. 2026
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Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2026
The fleet of space shuttle orbiters supported satellite deployment and microgravity research on orbital missions of up to 17 days.
—Emily A. Margolis, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2026
Robotic spacecraft, including rovers like Perseverance and Curiosity, and a fleet of Mars orbiters have spent years scouring the surface of the red planet for a variety of purposes.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
The system’s ability to operate across different mission modes—from orbiters to descent probes and aerial platforms—further enhances its versatility and scientific value.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for orbiter
Cite this Entry
“Orbiter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/orbiter. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
orbiter
noun
or·bit·er
ˈȯr-bət-ər
1
: one that orbits
2
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