Cute equation
Hi All
The first probe launched directly onto a heliocentric parabolic trajectory. After a bit of fiddling there's a cute equation for computing trip-time...
t = k*sqrt[(R-q)*(R+2q)^2]
...where q is the perihelion, R is the target radius, and k is a time constant equal to 0.075 years when q & R are in AU, and you start from perihelion.
So New Frontiers will take 1.1 years to Jupiter, after which it'll be on a hyperbolic trajectory and the equations get trickier with trigonometric equations that don't reduce.
New Frontiers would've taken about 14 years without that Jupiter boost, so it's quite an injection of speed from the Big Planet.
Adam