OT: Jupiter Probe

From: "Peter A. Collin" <pcollin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Wed, 02 May 2007 06:43:24 -0400

I was just reading about the latest pictures from Jupiter. I am always confused when NASA talks about the "gravity boost" space probes get from large planets. In this case, the New Horizons is shaving 3 years off its journey to Pluto by doing so. I can understand the gravity of Jupiter accelerates the probe as it approaches the planet for its fly-by. But wouldn't Jupiter's gravity also slow the probe down after it passed, producing no net gain? Can somebody explain this to me?

Peter Collin
.

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Re: OT: Jupiter Probe
... confused when NASA talks about the "gravity boost" space probes get from ... isn't decreased by much because momentum is ... You're the spacecraft and the big, fat skater is Jupiter. ... Gas planets must have very complex moments of inertia. ...
(rec.outdoors.fishing.fly)
Re: OT: Jupiter Probe
... always confused when NASA talks about the "gravity boost" space probes get from large planets. ... the New Horizons is shaving 3 years off its journey to Pluto by doing so. ... I can understand the gravity of Jupiter accelerates the probe as it approaches the planet for its fly-by. ...
(rec.outdoors.fishing.fly)
Re: OT: Jupiter Probe
... confused when NASA talks about the "gravity boost" space probes get from large planets. ... the New Horizons is shaving 3 years off its journey to Pluto by doing so. ... I can understand the gravity of Jupiter accelerates the probe as it approaches the planet for its fly-by. ...
(rec.outdoors.fishing.fly)
Re: OT: Jupiter Probe
... confused when NASA talks about the "gravity boost" space probes get from large planets. ... I can understand the gravity of Jupiter accelerates the probe as it approaches the planet for its fly-by. ... You might think that the force of Jupiter's gravity would also slow the spacecraft down by an equal amount that it sped it up. ...
(rec.outdoors.fishing.fly)
Re: Stars made of plasma noble gases
... > are the stars and many critical components of Jupiter [see Press ... > GALILEO PROBE RESULTS SUGGEST JUPITER ... > probe into the atmosphere of the huge, gaseous planet, the mass ...
(sci.astro)