[Thermodyne]

Originally posted by Ragnarok:
Perhaps this explains it:

quote:

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The spacecraft cannot fly straight to Mercury; it does not carry nearly enough fuel. So it will fly once past Earth, twice past Venus and three times past Mercury for gravity assists — and make 15 loops around the sun — before slowing enough to slip into orbit around the small, hot planet.

I don't know how going around planets that many times will solve the fuel issue unless they use the gravity somehow to slingshot the whole way.

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Yep, slingshot is the word that fits best. Saves fuel, and reduces the mass of the craft by getting rid of the engine and fuel tanks. But it only works for non-human missions. Life support is just as heavy as fuel.

[ August 04, 2004, 14:11: Message edited by: Thermodyne ]