orbiter

Etymology

orbit + -er

noun

1. An object that orbits another, especially a spacecraft that orbits a planet etc. without landing on it.
   One day after the Hope maneuver, a Chinese spacecraft, Tianwen-1, is to also enter orbit around Mars. The Chinese mission is carrying a lander and a rover to explore a large impact basin called Utopia Planitia, but those are not to detach from the orbiter and head to the surface until May. 2021-02-09, Kenneth Chang, “Mars Mission From the U.A.E. Begins Orbit of Red Planet”, in The New York Times, →ISSN
2. (slang, seduction community) A person who constantly hangs around with someone they are attracted to, but too shy to talk to.
   The orbiters in her life in high likelihood like to talk about this and make themselves her emotional tampon and outlet. 2015, Jack N. Raven, Penetration: A Tactical Manual on Forming Deep Emotional Connections!