lithobraking

English

Etymology 1

litho- (“pertaining to stone”) +‎ braking, coined as a pun on aerobraking.

Noun

lithobraking (uncountable)

  1. (humorous) Deceleration of a falling object due to impact with the ground.
    • 2003 December 26, Paul F Austin, “Lithobraking maneuver complete”, in alt.peeves, Usenet‎:
      Beagle 2 has successfully completed its critical lithobraking maneuver, marking another step for robotkind.
    • 2006, Paul J. Thomas, Roland D. Hicks, Christopher F. Chyba, Christopher P. McKay, Comets and the Origin and Evolution of Life, Springer Science & Business Media →ISBN, page 238
      In a big impact there is not enough time for the ejecta to radiatively cool in transit, so that reëntry (either aerobraking in the atmosphere or lithobraking at the surface) further heats already hot ejecta.
    • 2015, Charles Stross, Accelerando, Booklassic →ISBN
      I don't want us on a freeflight trajectory that entails lithobraking if we lose power and can't get the sail back.

Etymology 2

lithobrake +‎ -ing

Verb

lithobraking

  1. present participle of lithobrake

See also
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