gravity assists

A gravity assist, or gravitational slingshot, is a technique used by spacecraft to gain speed and change direction by passing close to a planet or other celestial body. As the spacecraft approaches, it is pulled by the planet’s gravity, causing it to accelerate. By carefully navigating this encounter, the spacecraft can effectively borrow some of the planet's orbital momentum, resulting in increased speed without using additional fuel. This method allows spacecraft to reach distant destinations more efficiently, saving time and resources, and is commonly used in interplanetary missions to explore worlds beyond our own.