gravity slingshot
Planetary momentum theft
A gravity slingshot, also called a gravitational slingshot or gravity assist, is a spaceflight maneuver that uses the gravity of a planet or moon to alter a spacecraft's speed and trajectory without using fuel.
As the craft approaches the celestial body, it gains momentum from the body's orbital motion, essentially borrowing energy to accelerate or change direction.
The Voyager probes used gravity slingshots around Jupiter and Saturn to reach the outer solar system.
- planetStar-orbiting spherical body
- swing byVisit briefly, informally
- orbitCurved celestial path
- orbital mechanicsScience of celestial motion
- delta-vSpacecraft maneuver measurement
escape velocity · flyby · spacecraft · space probe · conservation of energy · trajectory · Voyager · Cassini · speed boost · angular momentum · assist · kinetic energy · energy transfer · Jupiter · maneuver · physics · asteroid · launch window
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