retrorocket

or ret·ro-rock·et

[ re-troh-rok-it ]

noun

1. a small, auxiliary rocket engine, forming a part of a larger rocket vehicle and having its exhaust nozzle pointed toward the direction of flight, for decelerating the larger rocket, separating one stage from another, etc.

retrorocket

/ ˈrɛtrəʊˌrɒkɪt /

noun

1. a small auxiliary rocket engine on a larger rocket, missile, or spacecraft, that produces thrust in the opposite direction to the direction of flight in order to decelerate the vehicle or make it move backwards Often shortened toretro

Word History and Origins

Origin of retrorocket¹

First recorded in 1945–50; retro- + rocket ¹

Example Sentences

For future Mars missions, the inflatable heat shield would be combined with other systems like parachutes and retrorockets to guide the lander en route to a soft landing.

From New York Times

Another technology is retrorockets, used to take over from parachutes in the final stages of descent.

From Science Magazine

If she had fired her retrorockets when originally instructed to, she would have been pushed farther out into space without a way to return.

From Literature

Seconds later — 1.3 miles up — eight retrorockets on the descent stage fire, slowing the craft and flying it toward its target.

From Washington Post

But the air is too thin to slow a lander with only a parachute, so Tianwen-1’s lander must fire retrorockets at the exact right time to stop its descent.

From Science Magazine