gravity assist
/ˈɡrævəti əˌsɪst/
noun
- A spaceflight technique that uses the gravity of a planet or other celestial body to change the speed and direction of a spacecraft, saving fuel.
- The Voyager spacecraft used a gravity-assist from Jupiter to reach Saturn.
- Without a gravity-assist, the mission would have required much more rocket fuel.
- Engineers planned a gravity-assist maneuver to send the probe toward Neptune.
Synonyms