A0112850 (âr′ō-brā′kĭng)n. The use of atmospheric drag rather than onboard thrusters to reduce the velocity of a satellite or spacecraft.
aerobraking
(ˈɛərəʊˌbreɪkɪŋ) n (Astronautics) the use of aerodynamic braking in extremely low-density atmospheres in space at hypersonic Mach numbersEncyclopediaSeeaerodynamic braking