ballute
|bal-lute|
/bəˈluːt/
inflatable decelerator
Etymology
'ballute' originates from English as a blend of the words 'balloon' and 'parachute', where 'balloon' meant 'an inflatable bag' and 'parachute' meant 'a device for slowing descent.'
'ballute' was coined in the mid-20th century (used in aerospace contexts from the 1950s–1960s onward) as a technical term for balloon-like parachute devices and has been adopted in aerospace engineering vocabulary.
Initially, it meant a 'balloon-like parachute' or 'inflatable parachute device'; over time it has come to be used specifically for inflatable aerodynamic decelerators for spacecraft and high-speed vehicles.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an inflatable aerodynamic decelerator (a hybrid of a balloon and a parachute) used to slow spacecraft, probes, or high-speed vehicles during atmospheric entry or descent.
Engineers tested a ballute to slow the probe during descent into the planet's atmosphere.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/07 13:38