The Parker probe needs to lose a great deal of orbital energy and angular momentum in order to approach the Sun so closely. It will be aided in doing that by multiple flybys of Venus. Are these purely "gravitational slingshot" maneuvers, or will they actually graze the upper atmosphere of Venus and lose energy that way? If not, why not? The idea seems intuitively appealing.
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Minor spelling correction.
Will the Parker probe use aerobraking at Venus? If not, why not?
Steve Linton
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