3 ms·
We haven’t sent another probe, not because of anti nuclear lobby, but because of there was an unique event of planets being nearly on a line around 1970, which
by csunbird 5y ago
We haven’t sent another probe, not because of anti nuclear lobby, but because of there was an unique event of planets being nearly on a line around 1970, which allowed NASA to plot a series of gravity assists, instead of one or two, that allowed gaining immense amount of free velocity.
Sun’s gravity well is so immense that escaping it requires a very, very large amount of energy. I am not sure if it could be done with conventional rockets with current technology, without multiple gravity assists.
Edit: As the child comment says, it seems to be possible with current technology. It is very exciting!
- teraflop 5y ago> I am not sure if it could be done with conventional rockets with current technology, without multiple gravity assists. Yes, it can. New Horizons is escaping the solar system only a little bit slower than the Voyager probes, and it was already on an escape trajectory before its single Jupiter gravity assist.
- throwaway894345 5y agoI wonder what hope we have for making probes that will last longer (i.e., “do science even deeper in space”) than Voyager 1, Voyager 2, and New Horizons. Specifically, whether we can make RTGs or other power sources that last longer and/or scientific instruments that operate with lower power (without compromising on quality or quantity of observations). Maybe there just isn’t much science to do beyond the Kuiper Belt (or rather, getting 50 years beyond the Kuiper Belt doesn’t improve science much more than making the same observations from the KB itself due to the vastness of space)?
- ProAm 5y agoNew Horizons is quite a bit slower and will never overtake the Voyager probes distance wise.
- foobarian 5y agoI'm puzzled by the requirement for an alignment. It seems one could gravity assist in arbitrary directions though it might take longer. But should still end up with a similar energy gain.
- Jeff_Brown 5y agoThe gravity assist works by transferring some of the planet's momentum to the craft, and that momentum has a direction, not just an amount.