Hey, Star Gazers!

The furthest human-made# object ever built was Voyager 1 and 2, but they weren't launched by the most powerful# rockets.

Instead, they literally stole speed from planets by slingshotting their way# out of the solar system.

This is called a gravity assist.

Let me explain how it works.

The# gravity assist, also known as a gravity slingshot, is a technique that allows spacecraft to use the# gravitational pull of a planet or moon to gain speed and change direction without using extra# fuel.

It's a very clever trick that helps conserve resources while traveling vast distances at great# speeds.

So, first we launch that spacecraft on a regular old rocket, sending it on a trajectory# to pass near a planet, say Venus, like the Parker Solar Probe did, seven times from 2018 to 2022.

As# the spacecraft approaches the planet, the planet's gravity pulls it in.

And as it gets closer, that# spacecraft would speed up, and when it flies past, it gains energy from the planet's motion.

This# slingshot effect gives the spacecraft a boost, sending it on its way faster and more efficiently.# Think of it like falling toward the planet and missing.

That acceleration is a huge boost.# Because of gravity assists, the Parker Solar Probe is now the fastest moving spacecraft in history at# 430,000 mph.

One fun side effect of this is that the spacecraft is literally stealing momentum# from the turning planet, but the planets are so big relative to spacecraft that there's no need to# worry about it.

NASA has used gravity assist for decades with missions like Voyager, Cassini, and# New Horizons, all relying on it to reach distant parts of our solar system.

But gravity assist# isn't just a tool of the past.

It's also playing a crucial role in one of NASA's upcoming missions,# the Europa Clipper.

The Europa Clipper launched in fall of 2024 with the goal of exploring# Jupiter's icy moon, Europa.

Europa is one of the most intriguing places in our solar system because# beneath its frozen surface lies a vast ocean.

And scientists think there might actually be potential# for life there.

But getting to a small moon around a large planet far away is not easy.

If we just# slapped it on a rocket and pointed it at Europa, the Europa Clipper spacecraft would need a huge# amount of fuel and time to make the journey.

That would likely make the mission impractical or even# impossible.

Instead, the Europa Clipper spacecraft plans to use gravity assist to slingshot around# several planets.

First, it will perform a flyby of Earth, gaining speed before heading out toward the# outer planets.

Then, it will use another gravity assist as it swings past Venus and Jupiter,# adjusting its trajectory and accelerating as it goes.

This carefully planned path will help it# save fuel while still allowing it to reach Europa in just a few years after launch in the 2030s.# By using gravity assist, Europa Clipper will take a much more efficient path, making the# journey cheaper and faster.

When it arrives, the Clipper will carry out a series of flybys,# analyzing Europa's surface and subsurface in high detail.

The spacecraft will map its ice shell,# measure its magnetic field, and even study plumes of water vapor that erupt out of Europa's surface.# So, next time you hear about a spacecraft reaching the furthest corners of the solar system, remember# gravity assist is one of the secrets behind how we were able to explore those distant worlds.

It's# an incredible technique that allows us to explore farther, faster, and more efficiently than we# could without it.

Whether it's studying distant moons like Europa or venturing into the unknown# reaches of space, gravity assist is helping us unlock the mysteries of the universe.

Who# knows what amazing discoveries are just a gravitational slingshot away.

Until next time,# stargazers, keep looking up.

For more Star Gazers,#click the video below.

Don't leave me# hanging.

Come on.

Click it.

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