The Rutherford Formula Generalized for the Synthesis of Gravity Assist Chains

Rutherford’s formula for the scattering of charged α-particles in a Coulomb field can easily be generalized to the case of gravitational scattering. One of the types of gravitational scattering in the Solar System is gravity assist maneuvers. In this paper, an effective gravitational scattering cross section is introduced by analogy, and the generalized Rutherford formula for gravitational scattering is presented for performing gravity assists. It is shown that, with its use, it is possible to increase significantly the efficiency of the recurrent procedure for the search for ballistic scenarios of interplanetary flights.