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
- Lidars: Lidars (Light Detection and Ranging) are remote sensing systems that use laser light to measure distances and generate precise, three-dimensional information about the shape and surface characteristics of objects. In space and astronautical ... Read More >>
- Geological Properties: Geological properties refer to the characteristics of celestial bodies such as planets, moons, asteroids, and comets that are related to their geological structure, composition, and processes. These properties include but are not limited to ... Read More >>
- Water Purification Technologies: Water purification technologies refer to the various methods and processes used to remove contaminants and impurities from water, making it safe for consumption or other uses. In the context of space and astronautical engineering, water pur ... Read More >>
Top News
Why you shouldn't wait for the Geminid meteor shower peak this year...
The Geminid meteor shower this year is set to peak at almost the same time as December's full moon, which could make for challenging viewing conditions....
News Source: CBS News on 2024-12-06
Crime-solving techniques may have solved medieval art mystery...
A court handwriting expert may have helped reveal true identity of a leading Byzantine painter....
News Source: CBS News on 2024-12-05
Experts believe study of 700-year-old handwriting unveils leading Byzantine pain...
Crime-solving techniques applied to a medieval illuminated manuscript in Paris may have solved a centuries-old puzzle: The true identity of a leading Byzantine painter who injected a human touch into ...
News Source: ABC News on 2024-12-05
Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition: Image of young sharks hunting ...
The dynamics between predator and prey are laid bare in a striking image of fish being attacked by sharks in the shallow waters of the Maldives, which has claimed the top prize in this year’s Royal ...
News Source: CNN on 2024-12-04
Archaeologists discover 4,000-year-old canals used to fish by predecessors of an...
Using drones and Google Earth imagery, archaeologists have discovered a 4,000-year-old network of earthen canals in what’s now Belize...
News Source: ABC News on 2024-11-22