Abstract: In the early days of the Space Age, scientists realized that given the right planetary alignments it might be possible to use the gravity of one planet to change the trajectory of a spacecraft and send it on to another planet without expending any fuel. This slingshot or gravity assist trajectory principle was first tested by Mariner 10, which used the gravity of Venus to slingshot its way to Mercury in 1974. A very rare planetary alignment would occur in the late 1970’s allowing a spacecraft…