Orbit insertion

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Orbit insertion is a maneuver performed by an inter-planetary spacecraft designed to allow the spacecraft to be captured into orbit around a planet or other body such as a moon. The spacecraft approaches the planet at a speed greater than the escape velocity of the planet. The spacecraft must reduce its speed to below the planet's escape velocity. This is usually accomplished through a rocket firing (orbit insertion burn). The reduction in speed allows the spacecraft to settle into orbit around the planet. Aerobraking can also be used to slow the spacecraft, assuming the planet in question has an atmosphere.

Orbital insertion is also a term used with space vehicles launched from a body to establish an orbit around that body. Many flight profiles involve establishing a "base" orbit in space during the launch phase and performing refining maneuvers to insert the craft into the desired orbit. The difference here is that the vehicle usually must make minor course corrections and possibly even accelerate to attain desired orbit around a planet as opposed to decelerating from a trans-planetary trajectory.