English

Alternative forms

• gravitational assist, gravity-assist

Noun

gravity assist ‎(plural gravity assists)

1. (astrophysics) The favorable alteration of the speed and trajectory of a spacecraft as a result of its passing near to a celestial body.
   • 1989 Oct. 10, Warren E. Leary, "Galileo's Itinerary," New York Times (retrieved 4 Sep. 2011):

     After going into orbit around Jupiter with a gravity assist from the volcanic moon Io, Galileo will spend 22 months studying the planet.

   • 1997 Sept. 22, Dick Thompson and Michael D. Lemonick, "Nukes in Space," Time:

     Cassini is supposed to swing by Earth in 1999 for a gravity assist that would sling it out toward Saturn.

   • 2009 Oct. 2, "MESSENGER Gains Critical Gravity Assist For Mercury Orbital Observations," spacedaily.com (retrieved 4 Sep. 2011):

     MESSENGER successfully flew by Mercury yesterday, gaining a critical gravity assist that will enable it to enter orbit about Mercury in 2011.

Synonyms

• gravitational slingshot, gravity slingshot

Derived terms

• Jupiter gravity assist / JGA

Translations

References

• gravity assist at OneLook Dictionary Search