Gravity Assists
Gravity assist, also known as a slingshot maneuver, is a spaceflight maneuver that uses the gravity of a planet or other celestial body to change the direction and speed of a spacecraft. The spacecraft approaches the planet in a trajectory that takes it behind the planet, where it is affected by the planet's gravity. The spacecraft gains speed as it falls toward the planet, and then loses speed as it moves away from the planet. By carefully choosing the trajectory and timing of the maneuver, engineers can use the gravity assist to increase the speed of the spacecraft, change its direction, or both. Gravity assists have been used in many space missions, including the Voyager missions to the outer planets, the Cassini mission to Saturn, and the New Horizons mission to Pluto.
Your Previous Searches
Random Picks
- Ion Implantation: Ion implantation is a process of introducing ions of a material into another material, typically a semiconductor, to modify its properties. In the context of space and astronautical engineering, ion implantation is used to modify the surfac ... Read More >>
- Ballistic Missile: A ballistic missile is a missile that follows a ballistic trajectory when it is in flight. This means that the missile is initially propelled into the air and then follows a path determined by gravity and the missile's own momentum. Ballist ... Read More >>
- High-temperature Alloys: High-temperature alloys are a class of materials that exhibit excellent mechanical strength and resistance to creep, oxidation, and corrosion at elevated temperatures. These alloys are typically used in extreme environments such as gas turb ... Read More >>
Top News
Bestselling author explains the science of happiness: "You can do the work"...
Bestselling author and Harvard professor Arthur Brooks opens up about how enjoyment, satisfaction and meaning in life can increase a person's wellbeing....
News Source: CBS News on 2024-11-18
November's full moon, known as the Beaver Moon, is the last supermoon of 2024. H...
November's full moon, known as the Beaver Moon, is the last supermoon of 2024. Here's when it peaks and why it's called the Beaver Moon....
News Source: CBS News on 2024-11-15
You can't put a price on the sense of awe particle physics inspires...
Astronomy and particle physics are no longer seen as vital by the US establishment, so funding has fallen. But our work creates a sense of wonder, and wonder matters, says Chanda Prescod-Weinstein...
News Source: New Scientist on 2024-11-13
If you want to stretch your gift game into days this holiday, check out these ad...
The advent calendar phenomenon is growing every year, with so many exciting, fun, beautiful, and delicious options available...
News Source: ABC News on 2024-11-04
November brings a bonanza of meteor showers...
November brings a skywatching bonanza, with three meteor showers — the Southern Taurids, Northern Taurids and Orionids — offering chances to see shooting stars....
News Source: NBC News on 2024-11-02