gravity assist

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noun

the technique of using the energy of a gravitational field and the orbital velocity of a planet to change the speed and trajectory of a spacecraft.

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Also called gravitational slingshot .

Words nearby gravity assist

gravitative, gravitino, graviton, gravitropism, gravity, gravity assist, gravity cell, gravity clock, gravity dam, gravity escapement, gravity fault

How to use gravity assist in a sentence

I remember when I was working on our Pluto film, trying to describe a gravity assist, and there’s a lot of animation of it.
Looking for Life on Mars - Issue 107: The Edge|Caleb Scharf|September 29, 2021|Nautilus
The FBI has also been searching its records for any information that could assist the French investigation, a spokesperson added.
U.S. Spies See Al Qaeda Fingerprints on Paris Massacre|Shane Harris, Nancy A. Youssef|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
So not only will the GOP have control in the Senate, it will move the center of gravity on Capitol Hill hard to starboard.
The Democrats’ Black Hole—and What They Can Do About It|Michael Tomasky|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In the spring of 1933, few perceived Nazism with the gravity he did.
The Catholic Philosopher Who Took on Hitler|John Henry Crosby|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The powerful forces of gravity and magnetism channel matter into huge flattened spinning platters known as accretion disks.
The Black Hole Tango|Matthew R. Francis|November 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Landing on any other world is hard, but Comet 67P is especially challenging, even apart from the low gravity.
Earthlings, We Landed on a Comet|Matthew R. Francis|November 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The specific gravity is most conveniently estimated by means of the urinometer—Squibb's is preferable (Fig. 14).
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
One frequently wishes to ascertain the specific gravity of quantities of fluid too small to float an urinometer.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
The emperor Nicholas of Russia declared, by ukase, his purpose to assist Austria.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
She would never forget it; but realizing its gravity, she decided thereupon never to tell it—the dream—to anybody.
The Homesteader|Oscar Micheaux
Gordon, however, had never been a lover, and if Bernard noted Angela's gravity it was not because he felt jealous.
Confidence|Henry James