Michael Minovitch is a mathematician and aerospace engineer, best known for his significant contribution to the concept of gravity assist maneuvers in spaceflight. In the early 1960s, while working as a graduate student at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Minovitch developed the mathematical theory behind gravity assist, also known as the gravitational slingshot effect.

His work was a breakthrough in space mission planning. Before Minovitch's contribution, space missions were largely restricted by the limits of direct propulsion, making distant planetary missions extremely challenging and fuel-intensive. Minovitch's theory showed how spacecraft could use the gravity of planets to change their speed and trajectory, thereby enabling more efficient interplanetary travel.

His research was initially met with skepticism, but it eventually gained recognition and was implemented by NASA. The technique became a foundational principle in the planning of many interplanetary space missions, including the Voyager missions that explored the outer planets and interstellar space. Gravity assist maneuvers are now a standard tool in the planning of complex space missions, thanks to Minovitch's pioneering work.

Gravity Assist, also known as a gravitational slingshot, gravity swing-by, or flyby, is a spaceflight maneuver used to change the speed and direction of a spacecraft. This technique leverages the gravity of a planet or other celestial body to alter the path and speed of the spacecraft, without the use of additional fuel.