Use a planetary flyby to redirect a spacecraft and change its heliocentric speed.
Gray: Earth’s orbital velocity · Amber: planet-relative velocity · Blue: heliocentric sum
This browser-based game + simulation helps you use a planetary flyby to redirect a spacecraft and change its heliocentric speed. Designed for Grades 7–12, it turns an abstract idea into a model you can control, measure, reset, and test without signing up.
Explore Gravity assist, velocity, trajectory, momentum exchange by changing the available controls and comparing the model’s visual and numerical evidence. Try one variable at a time, then combine changes to test a stronger explanation.
A typical investigation takes 8–15 min. Use it as a lesson demonstration, a guided inquiry activity, a homework experiment, or a quick review. The simulation runs in a modern web browser and does not require an account.
Use a planetary flyby to redirect a spacecraft and change its heliocentric speed. The main ideas are Gravity assist, velocity, trajectory, momentum exchange.
Yes. You can run the simulation online for free without creating an account.
Most learners can complete one investigation in 8–15 min. You can repeat it to compare more variables or improve your explanation.