aerobrake

verb

aero·​brake ˈer-ō-ˌbrāk How to pronounce aerobrake (audio)
aerobraked; aerobraking; aerobrakes

transitive verb

: to decelerate (a spacecraft) by passage through a planetary atmosphere
aerobraking noun
Starting in a week, the spacecraft will use the upper fringes of the Martian atmosphere to lower and circularize its orbit through a technique called aerobraking. John Noble Wilford

Examples of aerobrake in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In practice, aerobraking at Mars was made problematic by the need to aerobrake the liquid hydrogen propellant required for the flight from Mars back to Earth. David S. F. Portree, WIRED, 24 July 2013

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'aerobrake.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

aero- + brake entry 2

First Known Use

1965, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of aerobrake was in 1965

Dictionary Entries Near aerobrake

Cite this Entry

“Aerobrake.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aerobrake. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

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