gravity assist
noun/ˈɡɹævɪti əˈsɪst/
1
Astrophysics The favorable alteration of the speed and trajectory of a spacecraft as a result of its passing near to a celestial body.
- After going into orbit around Jupiter with a gravity assist from the volcanic moon Io, Galileo will spend 22 months studying the planet.1989 October 10, Warren E. Leary, “Galileo's Itinerary”, in New York Times, retrieved 04 Sep 2011:
- Cassini is supposed to swing by Earth in 1999 for a gravity assist that would sling it out toward Saturn.1997 September 22, Dick Thompson, Michael D. Lemonick, “Nukes in Space”, in Time:
1 more example
- MESSENGER successfully flew by Mercury yesterday, gaining a critical gravity assist that will enable it to enter orbit about Mercury in 2011.2009 Oct. 2, "MESSENGER Gains Critical Gravity Assist For Mercury Orbital Observations," spacedaily.com (retrieved 4 Sep. 2011)
- Synonyms
- gravitational slingshot, gravity slingshot
- Derived terms
- JGA