noun a maneuver in which a spacecraft uses a planet's atmosphere to slow down and enter orbit
Aerocapture is a critical technique for enabling missions to distant planets by utilizing the planet's atmosphere for deceleration.
Aerocapture is a maneuver used in spaceflight to reduce the velocity of a spacecraft in order to be captured by a planet's atmosphere for orbital insertion.
Aerocapture is a method for studying the composition and properties of a planet's atmosphere by passing through it during spacecraft entry.
Aerocapture is a trajectory optimization technique used to achieve capture into orbit around a celestial body using aerodynamic drag.
Aerocapture requires specialized heat shields and thermal protection systems to withstand the intense heat and pressure during atmospheric entry.
Aerospace engineers use aerocapture as a method for slowing down spacecraft entering a planet's atmosphere without the need for excessive fuel or propulsion systems.
Astrophysicists study the feasibility and effectiveness of using aerocapture as a technique for orbital insertion and maneuvering around celestial bodies in space.
NASA mission planners consider aerocapture as a potential strategy for optimizing trajectories and minimizing fuel consumption during space missions to planets or moons.