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.
Your Previous Searches
Random Picks
- Supernova: Supernova is a powerful and luminous explosion that occurs when a star exhausts its fuel and collapses. This explosion releases an enormous amount of energy, which can briefly outshine an entire galaxy. In space and astronautical engineerin ... Read More >>
- Fluids: In the context of space and astronautical engineering, fluids refer to any substance that can flow and take the shape of its container, including liquids and gases. The behavior of fluids in microgravity environments is of particular intere ... Read More >>
- Space Debris Mitigation: Space Debris Mitigation refers to the set of measures taken to reduce the creation of new debris and the amount of debris already in orbit around the Earth. This includes designing satellites and rockets to minimize the amount of debris the ... Read More >>
Top News
Check out this interactive map of the early universe, considered largest ever cr...
A team of astronomers have put together the largest, most detailed map of the universe ever created – and you can explore it now....
News Source: USA Today on 2025-06-12
The Vera C. Rubin Observatory is about to totally transform astronomy...
With the ability to scan the entire southern night sky every three days, the huge Vera C. Rubin Observatory could be about to start solving the mysteries of the universe, from dark matter to Planet Ni...
News Source: New Scientist on 2025-06-12
Trump's proposed science cuts will have huge consequences...
The universe will still be there to marvel at, despite brutal cuts set to hit NASA and the National Science Foundation's budgets. But the damage to future research will be long-lasting, says Chanda Pr...
News Source: New Scientist on 2025-06-11
Starlink satellites are leaking radio signals that may ruin astronomy...
Our ability to study faint radio signals from when the first stars began to form is being threatened by SpaceX's Starlink satellites, which seem to be unintentionally leaking radio signals that overpo...
News Source: New Scientist on 2025-06-09
Asteroids around Venus pose possible 'invisible threat' to Earth: Should you be ...
A swarm of large asteroids likely lurking around Venus could one day pose an "invisible threat" to Earth if left unchecked, astronomers have warned....
News Source: USA Today on 2025-06-06