Gravitational Slingshot

Gravitational slingshot, also known as gravity assist, is a space navigation technique that uses the gravity of a planet or other celestial body to change the speed and trajectory of a spacecraft. The spacecraft approaches the planet in the opposite direction of its orbit and uses the planet's gravity to accelerate and change direction. This technique is commonly used to save fuel and time in interplanetary missions, as it allows spacecraft to reach higher speeds without expending additional fuel. The gravitational slingshot was first used in 1974 during the Mariner 10 mission to Mercury, and has since been used in numerous missions, including the Voyager missions to the outer planets and the New Horizons mission to Pluto.
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