"Bob Noel" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"Steven P. McNicoll" wrote:

How do you propose to slow the shuttle down from orbital velocity?

The shuttle does slow from orbital velocity to re-enter.

It slows only slightly, enough to get its orbit to dip into the atmosphere
where it then uses aerodynamic braking. Avoiding the need for
aerodynamic braking was, I believe, the whole point of the original
question.


The short answer to your follow-up question is the Orbital Maneuvering
System. The shuttle uses the OMS for both orbital maneuvering and to slow
from orbital velocity for reentry.