Back كبح جوي Arabic Aerofrenada Catalan Aerobraking Czech Atmosphärenbremsung German Aerofrenado Spanish ترمز اتمسفری Persian Ilmajarrutus Finnish Aérofreinage French Aerofreada Galician בלימה אטמוספירית HE
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter · Mars
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.