The term EARTH ORBITER refers to three different objects: MIR, MOON, and SATELLITE. MIR is a former Soviet space station that orbited the Earth from 1986 to 2001. The MOON is Earth's only natural SATELLITE, which has been orbiting the Earth since its formation. A SATELLITE is an artificial object that orbits the Earth and is used for communication, navigation, and other purposes. All three of these objects orbit the Earth and are considered Earth Orbiters.