Request Slingshots, what they good for?

[HiPotOk1978]

The question I pose is in the title "Slingshots, what they good for?" I am hoping since I know nothing about utilizing a slingshot what can I use them for, how to do them, what makes a good slingshot, what makes a bad one.

If you have any links to tutorials on how to set up slingshots, and utilize them please post here! I am hoping that maybe someone can point myself and others to a new tool for traveling the solar system...

 

[Scarecrow]

Slingshots are a clever way to use less propellant to get where you're going. The idea is that when you approach a large body, like a planet or moon (the minor body), and don't get captured, you will leave it's sphere of influence with the same speed relative to it, but in a different direction. However, since the planet or moon is moving relative to the sun or planet (the major body), you can gain or lose speed with a slingshot, relative to the major body. I can't remember where I learned how (I think it was partially trial and error), but I use TransX for slingshots. Other people probably use IMFD. Note: How much you can change your velocity with a slingshot is limited by the ratio of the minor body's mass to it's radius. The moon and inner planets don't tend to work terribly well (though there is some benefit), but the gas giants are good.

 

[Quick_Nick]

http://www.flytandem.com/orbiter/tutorials/Voyager%20Setup/index.htm

 

[HiPotOk1978]

Slingshots are a clever way to use less propellant to get where you're going. The idea is that when you approach a large body, like a planet or moon (the minor body), and don't get captured, you will leave it's sphere of influence with the same speed relative to it, but in a different direction. However, since the planet or moon is moving relative to the sun or planet (the major body), you can gain or lose speed with a slingshot, relative to the major body. I can't remember where I learned how (I think it was partially trial and error), but I use TransX for slingshots. Other people probably use IMFD. Note: How much you can change your velocity with a slingshot is limited by the ratio of the minor body's mass to it's radius. The moon and inner planets don't tend to work terribly well (though there is some benefit), but the gas giants are good.

Thx Scarecrow and Nick, for the infomation. I do know the general ideas about slinging if that is a word (and that is where my knowledge ends). There are 2 things I want to know about attempting a manouver like this. First, can I incorporate some sling around Venus or a Venus/Earth slingshot to help me get to Mars. The second question is can I attempt a manouver like this to help me get to Jupiter. I build that simple base on Jupiter and never go there. I was hoping my skills would be good enough soon after I released it and wanted to plan some missions around it, including moving LARGE ammounts of supplies. Perhapse this is my problem... I love to do missions with the futuristic craft (DGIV, XR1,2,5) but with the settings on default. For me, trying to get a XR5 with default settings to Jupiter with a reasonable ammount of inert cargo that I can pretend is preserved food, O2 and fuel to the surface. These missions I try to attempt usually end in failure due to the fact that direct flights is about all I can do atm. Anyone imo with a basic knowedge of Orbiter and its MFD tools and unlimited fuel or even the easiest settings on these craft can do the missions I attempt. If anyone is insulted by that comment, I appolgise. I am sure you can do it with a bit of practice. Took me about 20-30 tries with the recommended Jupiter settings on the DGIV to get it to Mars so I am not trying to claim to be some super genious.
But back to the subject at hand... Do slingshots end up getting you somewhere faster or are they used in attempts to save fuel...

 

[silent_protagonist]

Thx Scarecrow and Nick, for the infomation. I do know the general ideas about slinging if that is a word (and that is where my knowledge ends). There are 2 things I want to know about attempting a manouver like this. First, can I incorporate some sling around Venus or a Venus/Earth slingshot to help me get to Mars. The second question is can I attempt a manouver like this to help me get to Jupiter. I build that simple base on Jupiter and never go there. I was hoping my skills would be good enough soon after I released it and wanted to plan some missions around it, including moving LARGE ammounts of supplies. Perhapse this is my problem... I love to do missions with the futuristic craft (DGIV, XR1,2,5) but with the settings on default. For me, trying to get a XR5 with default settings to Jupiter with a reasonable ammount of inert cargo that I can pretend is preserved food, O2 and fuel to the surface. These missions I try to attempt usually end in failure due to the fact that direct flights is about all I can do atm. Anyone imo with a basic knowedge of Orbiter and its MFD tools and unlimited fuel or even the easiest settings on these craft can do the missions I attempt. If anyone is insulted by that comment, I appolgise. I am sure you can do it with a bit of practice. Took me about 20-30 tries with the recommended Jupiter settings on the DGIV to get it to Mars so I am not trying to claim to be some super genious.
But back to the subject at hand... Do slingshots end up getting you somewhere faster or are they used in attempts to save fuel...

Yes, you can do slingshots off of the inner planets. It's actually quite fun, once you get the hang of it, but it usually requires doing multiple slings off of the same planet, which can be rather tricky with the tools available to us in Orbiter. I'd suggest doing a few practice slings off Jupiter with the stock DG and unlimited fuel, until you get the hang of using whichever nav program you use (I prefer transX over IMFD for slings). Then once you get that down you can try moving on to the inner planets.

 

[eveningsky339]

I believe Voyager used a Venus-Earth-Jupiter slingshot or something of that nature.

 

[starbird]

Cassini used an even more elaborate flight path. http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/images/image-details.cfm?imageID=776

 

[Scarecrow]

Thx Scarecrow and Nick, for the infomation. I do know the general ideas about slinging if that is a word (and that is where my knowledge ends). There are 2 things I want to know about attempting a manouver like this. First, can I incorporate some sling around Venus or a Venus/Earth slingshot to help me get to Mars. The second question is can I attempt a manouver like this to help me get to Jupiter. I build that simple base on Jupiter and never go there. I was hoping my skills would be good enough soon after I released it and wanted to plan some missions around it, including moving LARGE ammounts of supplies. Perhapse this is my problem... I love to do missions with the futuristic craft (DGIV, XR1,2,5) but with the settings on default. For me, trying to get a XR5 with default settings to Jupiter with a reasonable ammount of inert cargo that I can pretend is preserved food, O2 and fuel to the surface. These missions I try to attempt usually end in failure due to the fact that direct flights is about all I can do atm. Anyone imo with a basic knowedge of Orbiter and its MFD tools and unlimited fuel or even the easiest settings on these craft can do the missions I attempt. If anyone is insulted by that comment, I appolgise. I am sure you can do it with a bit of practice. Took me about 20-30 tries with the recommended Jupiter settings on the DGIV to get it to Mars so I am not trying to claim to be some super genious.
But back to the subject at hand... Do slingshots end up getting you somewhere faster or are they used in attempts to save fuel...

Slingshots are slower than a direct flight, but they do save fuel.

 

[agentgonzo]

I believe Voyager used a Venus-Earth-Jupiter slingshot or something of that nature.

Voyager 1 did just Jupiter and Saturn, Voyager 2 did Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.

You're probably thinking about Cassini that did Venus twice, then Earth and Jupiter to get to Saturn

 

[fost]

If you have any links to tutorials on how to set up slingshots, and utilize them please post here! I am hoping that maybe someone can point myself and others to a new tool for traveling the solar system...

I have this IMFD 5.1 tutorial, containing a very good exercize about voyager2-like slingshot from jupiter to saturn, but it's in french. I'm translating in english in my free time but I have still a lot of work to do, because I'm italian and I know just a few words in french.
http://orbiter.mustard-fr.com/tutorials/download.php?file=imfd5.1_tuto
If anyone is able to translate it faster (and better) than me...

cheers

 

[eveningsky339]

Voyager 1 did just Jupiter and Saturn, Voyager 2 did Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.

You're probably thinking about Cassini that did Venus twice, then Earth and Jupiter to get to Saturn

Right, Cassini was what I was thinking of.


-----Post Added-----

I have this IMFD 5.1 tutorial, containing a very good exercize about voyager2-like slingshot from jupiter to saturn, but it's in french. I'm translating in english in my free time but I have still a lot of work to do, because I'm italian and I know just a few words in french.
http://orbiter.mustard-fr.com/tutorials/download.php?file=imfd5.1_tuto
If anyone is able to translate it faster (and better) than me...

cheers

I know Latin, but that doesn't help much when it comes to French because they did a fairly good job of butchering it. :lol: