retro-fire1
/ˈrɛtrəʊfʌɪə/Astronautics and Science Fiction
noun
The part of a space mission in which the retro-rockets of a spacecraft are fired; the firing itself.
Origin
1950s; earliest use found in Journal of the Franklin Institute. From retro- + fire.
retro-fire2
/ˈrɛtrəʊfʌɪə/Astronautics
verb
1 [with object] To fire backwards; especially to fire (a rocket engine) in a direction which provides a spacecraft with reverse thrust and so slows any forward motion; to give (a spacecraft, missile, etc.) reverse thrust by firing a retro-rocket.
2 [no object] To fire the retro-rockets of a spacecraft.
Origin
1960s. From retro- + fire. Compare slightly earlier retro-fire and retro-firing.