Whose name is given to the spacecraft concept for traveling between planets using gravity assists?
Quick Answer
The gravity-assist technique is often associated with Michael Minovitch, who worked it out in the 1960s. His calculations helped make efficient interplanetary travel possible.
The Full Story
Michael Minovitch, a mathematician at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, developed the practical use of gravity assists in the early 1960s. He showed that a spacecraft could gain speed by flying close to a moving planet and stealing a tiny amount of its orbital energy. This idea enabled lower-fuel missions to the outer Solar System. Gravity assists have since been used by many missions, including Voyager, Cassini and New Horizons.
Key Facts
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Suggested video title for this topic:
"The clever trick that lets spacecraft slingshot across the Solar System"
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