lander

[ lan-der ]

noun

1. a space probe designed to land on a planet or other solid celestial body.

lander

/ ˈlændə /

noun

1. a spacecraft designed to land on a planet or other body Compare orbiter

Word History and Origins

Origin of lander¹

First recorded in 1960–65; land + -er ¹

Example Sentences

SpaceX has a $4-billion contract to develop a “lunar lander” version of the Starship spacecraft that can return astronauts on the moon as part of its Artemis III mission scheduled for September 2026.

From Los Angeles Times

Still, there are technical challenges, with SpaceX yet to complete the $4-billion Starship lunar lander, which would have to be modified for Mars.

From Los Angeles Times

Russian and Soviet lunar landers used cork to help the rover have grip as it was descending to the surface, he added.

From BBC

When India's lander, called Vikram, made its celebrated soft landing on the south pole last August, a rover called Pragyaan drove out of the craft.

From BBC

The lander carried a seismometer, which recorded four years' of vibrations - Mars quakes - from deep inside the Red Planet.

From BBC