Astronomy and Space

Aerobraking

Aerobraking is a spaceflight maneuver that reduces the high point of an elliptical orbit (apoapsis) by flying the vehicle through the atmosphere at the low point of the orbit (periapsis). The resulting drag slows the spacecraft. Aerobraking is used when a spacecraft requires a low orbit after arriving at a body with an atmosphere, as it requires less fuel than using propulsion to slow down. A more extreme maneuver is aerocapture, where a spacecraft uses an atmosphere to perform orbit insertion, decelerating from a flyby trajectory.

Also on this shelf

See also

• ▸Extravehicular activity
• ▸Great Wall of Gorgan
• ▸Astronomy Picture of the Day

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