NASA uses planitary gravity to slingshot space probes to faster velocities. How

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Mark4848

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can they do this? Any velocity picked up on the way into a gravity well must be lost on the way out, right? What am I missing?
 
You are right, the velocity on the way out is going to be the same as the velocity on the way in relative to the planet itself. However, relative to the sun, the velocity changes. Essentially, the spacecraft steals some of the planet's momentum relative to the sun.
 
The gravity isn't strong enough to instantly pull the probe in.
But, it does have an effect on it, and when something is travelling at an immense speed, any slight pull on it will slingshot it.

To show you an ordinary every-day example, think of hammer throwers.
If a hammer thrower picks up the ball and throws it like a baseball, it will reach only so far. But if he tied a rope to the ball (pretend the Hammer Thrower was the planet, and the ball was the probe), he's going to spin the ball and then throw it, this will make it go Alot faster, Alot furthur. Basic Physics.
 
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