aerobraking

Aerobraking is a technique used in space exploration to decelerate a spacecraft by passing it through a planet's atmosphere. This method utilizes atmospheric drag to slow the spacecraft down, reducing the need for onboard fuel for deceleration.12

The process involves placing a spacecraft into a highly elliptical orbit, with its lowest point (perigee) dipping into the upper layers of a planet's atmosphere. As the spacecraft repeatedly passes through the atmosphere, its speed is gradually reduced, lowering its orbit's highest point (apogee) until a circular orbit is achieved. This technique was first tested in 1993 and has since become a standard practice for orbiting planets with atmospheres, such as Mars, saving significant amounts of propellant and allowing for larger payloads.2