Michael Andrew Minovitch (c. 1936 - 16 September 2022)[1] was an American mathematician who developed gravity assist technique when he was a UCLA graduate student and working summers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.[2][3]
Michael A. Minovitch | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | University of California, Berkeley University of California, Los Angeles |
| Known for | Calculating spacecraft trajectories |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Mathematics |
| Thesis | Mathematical Methods for the Design of Gravity Thrust Space Trajectories (1970) |
| Doctoral advisor | Shoshichi Kobayashi |
In 1961 Minovitch began using the fastest available computer at the time, the IBM 7090, to solve the three-body problem. He ran simulations and developed his own solution by 1962.[1]
The first mission to use a gravity assist was Pioneer 10, which increased its velocity from 52,000 km/h to 132,000 km/h as it passed by Jupiter in December, 1973.[4][5]
Minovitch patented a vehicle for space travel under the patent title Magnetic propulsion system and operating method, US Patent 6193194 B1.
References
edit- ^ a b Christopher Riley and Dallas Campbell (October 23, 2012). "The maths that made Voyager possible". BBC News. Retrieved 2014-10-14.
- ^ Minovitch, Michael (July 11, 1961), An Alternative Method for Determination of Elliptic and Hyperbolic Trajectories (PDF), Jet Propulsion Laboratory Technical Memos
- ^ Minovitch, Michael (August 23, 1961), A Method For Determining Interplanetary Free-Fall Reconnaissance Trajectories (PDF), Jet Propulsion Laboratory Technical Memos, pp. 38–44
- ^ "The Pioneer Missions". www.nasa.gov. March 26, 2007. Retrieved 2015-01-29.
- ^ Bill Casselman. "Slingshots and Space shots". American Mathematical Society. Retrieved 2015-01-29.
External links
edit- Michael Minovitch at the Mathematics Genealogy Project
- Jupiter swing-by trajectories passing near the earth Includes comprehensive history of the development of gravity-assist trajectories.
- Interview of Michael Minovitch by BBC Horizon on YouTube
- Gravity-assist "Slingshot", Background, principle, applications, Part 1 and 2 on EEWorldOnline.com
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