Aerospace: Planetary Slingshot

by Mark Little

 

Submitted : Spring 2012

Using the laws of conservation of kinetic energy and momentum, I began by deriving an equation for the final velocity of a space probe as it exited a planet’s sphere of influence. This was an integral part of the project since the next step was to calculate the probe’s velocity and acceleration using Newton’s laws. I then used the previously acquired information to plot the probe’s trajectory and velocity and later calculated its orbital period around a planet.

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	Advisors :
	Brian Curtin, Mathematics and Statistics
	Noureddine Elmehraz, Computer Science & Engineering
	Suggested By :
	Noureddine Elmehraz