A measure of the impulse needed to perform a maneuver or the total propulsive capability of a spacecraft. It represents the maximum change in speed a vehicle can generate in a vacuum, dictating which orbits or destinations it can reach. Mission planners use it as a budget, subtracting the cost of each burn from the spacecraft's total capacity.
Heard on the job
We need another 300 meters per second of delta-v to complete the orbital insertion.
Insider tip
Often written as ∆v. It is the ultimate currency of spaceflight: once you run out, you cannot change your trajectory.