reboost
/ˌriːˈbuːst/
Definition
The act of increasing the altitude or velocity of a spacecraft or satellite that has begun to drift from its intended orbital path due to atmospheric drag or other factors.
Etymology
The word is a combination of the Latin-derived prefix 're-', meaning 'again,' and the English verb 'boost,' which likely originated from 18th-century slang meaning to lift or push from below. In an aerospace context, it was adopted in the mid-20th century to describe the specific maneuver of pushing a craft back to a higher trajectory.
In the news
The article uses the term to describe a planned mission where a spacecraft will dock with the Swift telescope to restore or adjust its orbit. It highlights the technical necessity of maintaining orbital stability for long-term space science operations.
Relativity Space Hires NASA To Build And Operate Mars Science Payload
Read the full article ↗Aviation Week