
NASA uses aerobraking (AB) to reduce the fuel required to deliver a spacecraft into its desired final orbit around a target planet or moon with a significant atmosphere. Instead of using the propulsion system to decelerate the spacecraft, AB utilizes aerodynamic drag. While flying...

Phase 1 of the Development of Autonomous Aerobraking (AA) Assessment investigated the technical capability of transferring the processes of aerobraking maneuver (ABM) decision making (currently performed on the ground by an extensive workforce and communicated to the spacecraft...