yo-yo despin

English

Animation of the use of a spin-stabilized upper stage for a space mission, including the yo-yo despin (from 0:22 to 0:26) of the spacecraft following upper-stage burnout.

Alternative forms

• yo-yo de-spin

Etymology

From the cables being wrapped around the spacecraft and unreeling in the manner of a double yo-yo.

Noun

yo-yo despin (uncountable)

1. (astronautics) A method of reducing the rotation rate of a rapidly-spinning spacecraft by unreeling a pair of weights from the spinning spacecraft, greatly increasing the spacecraft's moment of inertia and transferring most of the spacecraft's angular momentum to the weights.

Related terms

• yo-yo weight