Orbiter

/ˈɔrbɪtər/ noun

Definition

An object or spacecraft that travels in a circular path around a planet, star, or other celestial body.

Etymology

From Latin 'orbita' meaning 'wheel track' or 'orbit,' plus English -er suffix meaning 'one that does.' Originally a word for things moving in circular paths, popularized by spacecraft in the 1960s.

Kelly Says

NASA's Cassini orbiter spent 13 years circling Saturn, transmitting more data than any other spacecraft—it was essentially a robotic explorer that kept going in circles but never got bored.

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