retrorocket

American  

[re-troh-rok-it] / ˈrɛ troʊˌrɒk ɪt /

Or retro-rocket

noun

1. a small, auxiliary rocket engine, forming a part of a larger rocket vehicle and having its exhaust nozzle pointed toward the direction of flight, for decelerating the larger rocket, separating one stage from another, etc.

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retrorocket British  

/ ˈrɛtrəʊˌrɒkɪt /

noun

1. Often shortened to: retro.  a small auxiliary rocket engine on a larger rocket, missile, or spacecraft, that produces thrust in the opposite direction to the direction of flight in order to decelerate the vehicle or make it move backwards

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Etymology

Origin of retrorocket

First recorded in 1945–50; retro- + rocket ¹

Example Sentences

For future Mars missions, the inflatable heat shield would be combined with other systems like parachutes and retrorockets to guide the lander en route to a soft landing.

From New York Times

Another technology is retrorockets, used to take over from parachutes in the final stages of descent.

From Science Magazine

Seconds later — 1.3 miles up — eight retrorockets on the descent stage fire, slowing the craft and flying it toward its target.

From Washington Post

But the air is too thin to slow a lander with only a parachute, so Tianwen-1’s lander must fire retrorockets at the exact right time to stop its descent.

From Science Magazine

On 18 February, NASA’s SUV-size rover, Perseverance, will take the plunge, slowed by parachutes and retrorockets on a “sky crane” platform.

From Science Magazine