What is aerobraking?

Answer 1

Well, that depends upon what altitude you are flying at...

In the normal atmosphere some planes have brakes which are large flaps that can be extended to create turbulence and lots of drag on the airplane's flight through the air. In some instances these flaps are called "dive brakes."

In the case of Re-Entry from Space, a shuttle, such as the Americans use to go back and forth to the Space Station, has a huge surface that is protected from high heat buildup and the shuttle presents this surface to the increasingly thick atmosphere as it gradually descends from space. The friction caused by flying at high speed through this thicker and thicker atmosphere causes friction which is aerobraking. The friction causes lots of heat. The shuttle gradually bleeds off velocity in the process until it is down to a reasonable speed to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere in a gentle glide.

Answer 2

Aerobraking is a spacecraft maneuver that reduces the high point of an elliptical orbit (apoapsis) by flying the vehicle through the atmosphere at the low point of the orbit (periapsis), using drag to slow the spacecraft. Aerobraking saves fuel, compared to the direct use of a rocket engine, when the spacecraft requires a low orbit after arriving at a body with an atmosphere.

Answer 3

In aerobraking, a spacecraft is slowed down by frictional drag as it flies through the upper part of a planet's atmosphere.