aerobrakes
/ˈɛroʊˌbreɪks/
noun
- Plural of aerobrake; devices or maneuvers that use atmospheric drag to slow spacecraft.
- The spacecraft has two aerobrakes that deploy during reentry.
- Different missions use various types of aerobrakes depending on the planet's atmosphere.
- The engineers tested the aerobrakes in a vacuum chamber to simulate space conditions.
verb
- Third person singular present of aerobrake; slows a spacecraft using atmospheric drag.
- The lander aerobrakes carefully to avoid overheating.
- Each time the satellite aerobrakes, it loses a little more speed.
- The probe aerobrakes automatically when it reaches the target altitude.