Aldrin cycler

English

Etymology

Aldrin +‎ cycler. After Buzz Aldrin, who developed the concept and its mathematical basis. From being a cycler, a space vehicle which cycles between intercepts of two celestial bodies in their own orbits, with little or no orbital adjustments needed, on as close to pure ballistics as practicable.

Noun

Aldrin cycler (plural Aldrin cyclers)

1. (astronautics) A spacecraft which cycles between Earth and Mars, in its own orbit which intercepts both their orbits at times when the planets are at those points in their orbits; which allows transport from Earth to Mars, or vice versa.

Synonyms

• Earth-Mars cycler
• Mars cycler
• Mars-Earth cycler

 

Hypernyms

• cycler
• spacecraft
• spaceship
• space station
• space vehicle
• space vessel

 

Related terms

• Hollister cycler (an Earth-Venus cycler)