A gravitational "sling-shot":
A)causes comets to crash into planets, such as Jupiter in 1994.
B)allowed the Apollo astronauts to reach the Moon in 1969.
C)is the accepted theory for the formation of the asteroid belt.
D)changes the speed and direction of a spacecraft nearing a massive planet.
E)explains how the solar system was formed after a near collision with another star.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A gravitational sling-shot, also known as a gravity assist, is a technique used by spacecraft to change their speed and direction by using the gravitational pull of a planet or other celestial body. This technique was used by the Apollo missions to reach the Moon, and is commonly used in modern space missions. A gravitational "sling-shot" changes the speed and direction of a spacecraft nearing a massive planet. This technique was used by NASA to send spacecraft to explore the outer planets of our solar system, such as Voyager 1 and 2.

A Gravitational "Sling-Shot