NASA engineers have developed the gravitational slingshot maneuver to propel spacecraft on interplanetary journeys by utilizing the gravitational pull of planets. Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 successfully escaped the solar system using this technique, taking advantage of a rare alignment of the outer planets known as the Grand Tour alignment. As the spacecraft approached planets like Jupiter, their gravitational fields caused the spacecraft to gain speed, propelling them farther into space. This maneuver works by exchanging energy between the planet and spacecraft, allowing the spacecraft to accelerate while the planet loses a small amount of its orbital energy. Thanks to the gravitational slingshot, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 have become the farthest and fastest human-made objects, venturing billions of kilometers away from Earth and expanding our understanding of the universe. This technique not only saves fuel but also reduces mission duration and makes space exploration more cost-effective.
Produced with the help of Pictory AI
#理大 #理學院 #應用物理學系 #物理 #比賽 #中學生 #探索物理 #短片製作 #中學生比賽
#PolyU #PolyUScience #PolyUAP #Appliedphysics #Physics #Competition #secondarystudent #ExplorePhysics #Shortfilmmaking #InnovationInLearning