lithocapture

== English == === Etymology === From litho- (“pertaining to stone”) +‎ capture, coined as a pun on aerocapture and lithobraking. === Pronunciation === (General American) IPA(key): /ˈlɪ.θoʊˌkæp.t͡ʃɚ/, /ˈlɪ.θəˌkæp.t͡ʃɚ/, /ˈlɪ.θoʊ.kæpˌt͡ʃɚ/, /ˈlɪ.θə.kæpˌt͡ʃɚ/ (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈlɪ.θoʊˌkæp.t͡ʃə/ === Noun === lithocapture (countable and uncountable, plural lithocaptures) (astronautics, humorous) A form of lithobraking in which a spacecraft or other object on a hyperbolic trajectory inbound to a planet, moon, asteroid, or other celestial body is decelerated by impact with the surface of the body. === Verb === lithocapture (third-person singular simple present lithocaptures, present participle lithocapturing, simple past and past participle lithocaptured) (astronautics, humorous) To perform lithocapture. === Related terms ===