inertial orbit

inertial orbit

[in′ər·shəl ′ȯr·bət]

(astronomy)

The path described by an object that is subject only to gravitational forces, such as a celestial body or a spacecraft that is not under any type of propulsive power.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.