Retrorocket (Noun)
Meaning
A small rocket engine on a larger rocket or spacecraft that is fired to slow or alter its course.
Classification
Nouns denoting man-made objects.
Examples
- The spacecraft's retrorocket fired for 30 seconds to slow its descent into the planet's atmosphere.
- During the lunar landing, the retrorocket was used to slow the spacecraft's velocity and ensure a safe touchdown.
- The retrorocket's malfunction caused the spacecraft to veer off course, requiring a series of corrective maneuvers.
- To enter Earth's orbit, the satellite's retrorocket was fired to reduce its speed and stabilize its trajectory.
- The astronauts relied on the retrorocket to slow the spacecraft's re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere, ensuring a safe splashdown.