this post was submitted on 31 Aug 2025
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Science Memes

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[–] pineapplelover@lemmy.dbzer0.com 0 points 3 days ago (2 children)
[–] rooster_butt@lemmy.world 0 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (4 children)

Jupiter is used as a gravity assist to launch spacecraft further. This maneuver is known as a slingshot.

[–] pineapplelover@lemmy.dbzer0.com 0 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Ah ok. I remember we also did this with the Moon for one if the Apollo missions

[–] Tollana1234567@lemmy.today 0 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

sg1 taught us that, its either jupiter, or another gas giant or a black hole.

[–] 0x0@lemmy.zip 0 points 3 days ago (1 children)

or a black hole.

Not a physicist but i don't think a black hole would work...

[–] Wolf@lemmy.today 0 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Why wouldn't it? A gravity well is a gravity well. As long as you remain outside the event horizon it should work in the same way.

[–] sleen@lemmy.zip 0 points 2 days ago

As the other commenter has stated, it's not about the gravity - because you have to ultimately counter that gravity to escape. But it is about the kinetic energy of the planet as it orbits.

[–] wewbull@feddit.uk 0 points 3 days ago (1 children)

What worries me is that they're stealing a little bit of Jupiter's momentum every time. If they're not careful it'll fall towards the sun and we'll have a Jupiter landing on our heads.

[–] Baggie@lemmy.zip 0 points 3 days ago

It's alright, we send someone out every few years to give it a bit of a wind up, like a grandfather clock.

[–] funkajunk@lemmy.world 0 points 3 days ago

Spacecraft can use the gravitional energy from Jupiter to perform a "slingshot" maneuver, gaining significant momentum and reaching the outer solar system with less fuel.