Orbital mechanics and gravity assist.

One of the many aspects about orbital mechanics is that it allows us to understand and predict the complex movements of celestial bodies using relatively simple mathematical principles. The field is grounded in Kepler's laws of planetary motion and Newton's law of universal gravitation. One particularly fascinating aspect is the concept of "gravity assists" or "gravity slingshots," where spacecraft use the gravity of planets to increase their speed and alter their trajectory without using additional fuel. This technique has also been used in missions like Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 to explore the outer planets of our solar system, demonstrating how orbital mechanics can enable spacecraft to travel further and more efficiently by leveraging the gravitational fields of planets.