subsatellite

[ suhb-sat-l-ahyt ]

noun

1. a satellite designed to be released into orbit from another spacecraft.

Word History and Origins

Origin of subsatellite¹

First recorded in 1890–95; sub- + satellite

Example Sentences

Writing to Salon, Holcomb cited historical archaeologist Pete Capelotti when the latter identified five categories of lunar artifacts: "lunar module ascent stages, lunar module descent stages, Saturn V third-stage rockets, subsatellite science probes, and lunar rovers."

From Salon

The satellite launches were first reported by the website Space.com, which noted “it is possible that the object is a subsatellite, possibly to be used together with the parent satellite for on-orbit testing.”

From Washington Times

A former subsatellite would help explain some of the mysteries of Iapetus, one of Saturn's moons.

From Scientific American

The subsatellite would have spiraled slowly away from Iapetus until Saturn grabbed it.

From Scientific American

With the press of a button, the small, instrument-packed subsatellite will be automatically injected into an orbit around the moon.

From Time Magazine Archive