Michael_Minovitch

Michael Minovitch

Michael Minovitch

American mathematician

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]

Quick Facts Nationality, Alma mater ...

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

  1. [1]
    Christopher Riley and Dallas Campbell (October 23, 2012). "The maths that made Voyager possible". BBC News. Retrieved 2014-10-14.
  2. [2]
    Minovitch, Michael (July 11, 1961), An Alternative Method for Determination of Elliptic and Hyperbolic Trajectories (PDF), Jet Propulsion Laboratory Technical Memos
  3. [3]
    Minovitch, Michael (August 23, 1961), A Method For Determining Interplanetary Free-Fall Reconnaissance Trajectories (PDF), Jet Propulsion Laboratory Technical Memos, pp. 38–44
  4. [4]
    "The Pioneer Missions". www.nasa.gov. March 26, 2007. Retrieved 2015-01-29.
  5. [5]
    Bill Casselman. "Slingshots and Space shots". American Mathematical Society. Retrieved 2015-01-29.


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