Suborbital - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Suborbital refers to a flight path that reaches space but does not complete a full orbit around Earth. It is commonly used in space tourism and scientific missions.
Definition:
Relating to a trajectory that does not complete a full orbit, especially in spaceflight.
Synonyms:
near-space, partial-orbit, ballistic
Part of Speech:
adjective
Antonyms:
orbital, complete-orbit
Common Collocations:
suborbital flight, suborbital trajectory, suborbital rocket
Derivatives:
suborbitally, suborbitalness (rare)
Usage Tips:
Use "suborbital" to describe flights or paths that reach space but do not achieve full orbit around Earth.
Common Phrases:
suborbital jump, suborbital mission, suborbital tourism
Etymology:
From Latin "sub-" (under) + "orbita" (track or course), meaning below or short of a full orbit.
Examples:
- 1. The rocket achieved a suborbital flight before descending.
- 2. Suborbital travel is becoming popular for space tourism.
- 3. The spacecraft followed a suborbital trajectory during testing.
- 4. Scientists studied the effects of suborbital conditions on materials.