Quote:
Originally Posted by August
I meant a main system not stabilizers. The Voyagers use gravity as their main source of propulsion.
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I understand what you mean. To be completely honest, I have no idea how they are set up. I know Cassini used an elaborate set of maneuvers to as you said, use gravity as a " slingshot " to catapult itself into space. I believe it also used thrusters to gain velocity. Casssini was in my opinion a more ambitious probe. One of these probes used Ion engines for propulsion as well.
When Cassini arrived at Saturn, It executed an elaborate elliptical orbit that consistently went between Saturn and it's rings to " burn " off speed. The Shuttles did the same maneuvers in executing S turns to bleed off energy and speed before landing.
With Cassini, this all had to be done before they could even attempt an orbit insertion. Cassini had spent 13 years in orbit around Saturn, collecting data.