retrofire
Deceleration rocket burn
Retrofire refers to the firing of a retrorocket—a rocket engine that produces thrust opposite to a spacecraft's direction of travel, used for braking or reentry.
As a verb, to retrofire is to ignite such rockets: The capsule retrofired to begin its descent.
The term belongs to the vocabulary of spaceflight, particularly the era of early orbital missions.
Engine providing forward force
- engineMachine producing motion
- nozzleFlow-directing pipe fitting
- fuelEnergy source material
- oxidizerElectron-accepting reactant
combustion · ignition · burn · rocket · exhaust · chamber · propellant · ullage
Gaseous layer around planets
- heatshieldProtective layer against friction
- capsuleEnclosed dose container
- splashdownSpacecraft's water landing
- parachuteDrag-creating descent device
recovery · descent · ablation · thermal · plasma · blackout · deorbit · touchdown
Reducing speed deliberately
- thrustForceful forward motion
- reverseTurn to opposite
- slowdownReduction in pace
- velocityDirected rate of motion
drag · retrorocket · aerobraking · friction · resistance · inertia · damping · retardation
Damage by heat
- orbitCurved celestial path
- trajectoryPath of moving object
- guidanceAdvice for decisions
- controlAuthority to direct
attitude · correction · velocity · adjustment · navigation · docking · intercept · transfer
thruster
Engine providing forward force
oxidizer · combustion · ignition · burn · rocket · exhaust · chamber · propellant · ullage · gimbal
atmosphere
Gaseous layer around planets
- heatshieldProtective layer against friction
- capsuleEnclosed dose container
- splashdownSpacecraft's water landing
parachute · recovery · descent · ablation · thermal · plasma · blackout · deorbit · touchdown · landing
braking
Reducing speed deliberately
velocity · drag · retrorocket · aerobraking · friction · resistance · inertia · damping · retardation · slowing
burn
Damage by heat
- orbitCurved celestial path
- trajectoryPath of moving object
- guidanceAdvice for decisions
control · attitude · correction · velocity · adjustment · navigation · docking · intercept · transfer · boost
- spaceflightlaunch, astronaut, spacecraft, liftoff, orbit
- spacecraft maneuversburn, docking, deorbit, rendezvous, gravity assist