For the wonder project, we got to choose a question that interested us in astronomy. What I chose to do my research on was, “Is there another way to create velocity in space to improve space travel from what we currently established?” I was interested in finding a more purposeful way of moving in space and through my research, I find found two possible solutions.
For something to move in space on its own, it must use rocket propellent to propel itself into gaining momentum. Knowing this is what lead me to ask myself, is there a way to create velocity with the given environment of space? That is what landed me upon the gravitational sling shot also known as a gravity assist. The gravity assist is using a planets massive angular momentum from its orbit around the sun and transferring some of that momentum to a space craft. How it works is a space craft must fly directly into a planets gravitational pull with its orbital speed around the sun, when it joins the planets gravitational pull, the planets momentum then moves the space craft within its own momentum.
The advantages of using this method in space is that it uses less propellent, faster traveling, and controls a space crafts speed and direction. Gravity assists give us the opportunity to use less fuel while traveling in space which can be beneficial for interstellar travel. This can replace using fuel as a main component for a rocket resulting in less negative impacts on earth and reducing costs. A gravity assist can get us into the “backyard” of our solar system because of the amount of momentum a space craft can gain from a planets orbital speed. During this assist, a space craft flies into a planets gravitational pull, which is then pulled into the planets orbit around the sun and a space craft can release itself from the orbit to the direction it wants to go. NASA has used gravity assists several times with their robotic spacecrafts including when Voyager 2 needed to use Jupiter’s gravity to get to its destination at Saturn. The only downfall I could find in my research of using this method is it takes tiny bits of momentum from the planet every time a space craft does a fly-by and if this happens about several zillion times, the planet will crash into the sun. Luckily, we can reverse this affect by doing the opposite of a gravity assist and flying into a planets orbit from the opposite direction it is heading and transfer back momentum. The gravitational slingshot is very beneficial to our future in space travel because it is a never-ending fuel supplier.
Nuclear energy has become popular and is anticipated to replace common appliances that use chemical energy because of it is a better and more eco-friendly source of energy. NASA thinks that creating a nuclear rocket is the future of space travel because it is proficient and creates mass amounts of energy compared to chemical combustion. NASA’s plan is to change the output of energy from a fusion engine that currently converts thermal energy to electricity, but in stead have it directly release its thermal energy into the propellant. Changing this part of a fusion engine makes it usable in space by basically recreating the energy that is created using chemical combustion but instead using fusion. NASA has made progress in bringing the idea of creating a nuclear thermal rocket engine to life with the collaboration of Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in creating the program Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO). Currently we are not that far in creating a proficient fusion engine but when we get there, it can be revolutionary in space travel.
To conclude the facts above, I have found through my research two methods of creating a more purposeful way of moving in space. Most of my data came from NASA or was confirmed by it so I know it is true and reliable. The gravity assist helps us move through space with using less fuel and the fusion rocket completely replaces using chemical fuel for nuclear. The world is using gravity assists and most are working on nuclear fusion so hopefully in the future, we will see these methods being used.
Work Cited
Cain, Fraser, director. How Do Gravitational Slingshots Work? YouTube, YouTube, 28 July 2014, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJmD_1kSa3I&t=265s. Accessed 18 June 2023.
“Basics of Space Flight – Solar System Exploration: NASA Science.” NASA, solarsystem.nasa.gov/basics/primer/. Accessed 18 June 2023.
Slough , John. “The Fusion Driven Rocket: Nuclear Propulsion.” NASA, 25 Mar. 2019, www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/niac/2012_Phase_II_fusion_driven_rocket/.
“NASA, DARPA Will Test Nuclear Engine for Future Mars Missions.” Edited by Roxana Bardan, NASA, 23 Jan. 2023, www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-darpa-will-test-nuclear-engine-for-future-mars-missions.
Wow! Your detail about these two methods of movement in space is incredible!