circumlunar

adjective

cir·​cum·​lu·​nar ˌsər-kəm-ˈlü-nər How to pronounce circumlunar (audio)
: revolving about or surrounding the moon
a circumlunar orbit

Examples of circumlunar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Enlarge / Akiko and Dennis Tito are customers on SpaceX's second circumlunar mission aboard Starship. Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 12 Oct. 2022 These programs enabled the Soviets to score a number of firsts: first lunar impact (Luna 2), first images of the farside (Luna 3), first soft landing (Luna 9), first orbiter (Luna 10), and first circumlunar missions returned to Earth (Luna 16). Amy Shira Teitel, Discover Magazine, 29 Jan. 2019 The safe return marked the end of a 25-day lunar orbital mission, proving the flight-worthiness of the Orion spacecraft, which is expected to carry a crew of astronauts on a circumlunar journey during Artemis 2, in 2024. Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 11 Dec. 2022 Then comes Tito and the second circumlunar mission. Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 14 Oct. 2022 If all goes well, the mission, known as Artemis 1, will be followed in 2024 by Artemis 2, which will see astronauts making a similar circumlunar journey—marking the first time humans have been in the vicinity of the moon since Apollo 17 in 1972. Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 16 Nov. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'circumlunar.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1909, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of circumlunar was circa 1909

Dictionary Entries Near circumlunar

Cite this Entry

“Circumlunar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/circumlunar. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

circumlunar

adjective
cir·​cum·​lu·​nar ˌsər-kəm-ˈlü-nər How to pronounce circumlunar (audio)
: revolving about or surrounding the moon
a circumlunar orbit
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