Astronautics Jargon

noun a device or technique used in spacecraft to reduce speed by using the atmosphere's drag

verb to slow down a spacecraft by using aerodynamic drag

• The spacecraft used an aerobrake maneuver to slow down and enter orbit around the planet.
• The ship did an aerobrake thing to slow down and get into orbit.
• The rocket did some aerobrake stuff to slow down and go into orbit.
• Using humor as an aerobrake, he gently slowed down the tense situation.

noun A maneuver in which a spacecraft uses the resistance of a planet's atmosphere to slow down or adjust its trajectory

• Aerobraking is a spaceflight maneuver that uses a planet's atmosphere to slow down a spacecraft.
• They used aerobraking to slow down the spacecraft as it entered Mars' atmosphere.
• Aerobraking is like hitting the brakes with the atmosphere.
• In life, sometimes we need to aerobrake by slowing down and using our surroundings to help us navigate challenges.