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Gravity assist

Gravity assist, also known as a gravity slingshot or gravitational slingshot, is a spaceflight maneuver used by spacecraft to change their velocity and trajectory by utilizing the gravitational pull of planets or other celestial bodies. This technique was first applied by the Mariner 10 spacecraft in 1973 to gain speed and maneuver itself to Mercury.

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This technique was first applied by the Mariner 10 spacecraft in 1973 to gain speed and maneuver itself to Mercury. The primary purpose of gravity assist maneuvers is to conserve fuel and achieve higher speeds without the need for large rocket engines. By carefully planning the trajectory of a spacecraft to encounter a celestial body at optimal angles, it can gain or lose energy from the planet's gravitational field, effectively using it as a "slingshot" to increase or decrease its velocity. Several factors affect the effectiveness of a gravity assist maneuver, including the relative motion of the spacecraft and the celestial body, the mass and velocity of the body, and the distance and angle of approach. Different trajectories and encounters can result in different energy exchanges, allowing spacecraft to adjust their paths, navigate through the solar system, and reach distant destinations. Gravity assist maneuvers have been widely used in space exploration. Numerous missions, such as Voyager, Cassini-Huygens, and New Horizons, have utilized gravity assists to explore the outer planets, reach the asteroid belt, or make flybys of other celestial bodies. The technique has proved to be a cost-effective and efficient way to extend mission lifetimes and explore regions that would otherwise be hard to reach. While gravity assist maneuvers offer significant advantages, they also come with challenges and constraints. Precise calculations and trajectory planning are crucial to ensure successful encounters and minimize risks. Additionally, the maneuver may alter the course of the planet or moon being utilized, requiring careful consideration of potential effects on other missions or bodies within the solar system. Gravity assist has made significant contributions to our understanding of the solar system, allowing for groundbreaking discoveries and enabling us to explore remote corners of space. With continued advancements in space technology, gravity assist is expected to remain an important tool for future space missions, facilitating exploration of new frontiers and pushing the boundaries of human understanding.