[JumpCrisscross]

> If Jupiter wasn't there, these missions might not be possible

If Jupiter weren’t there and moving relative to the destinations. The gravity isn’t the critical piece, it’s the relative motion.

Just having a massive object does nothing because gravity isn’t doing any work, it’s just coupling you to a moving object.

[nick238]

Oh, sorry, I didn't specify which Jupiter I was referring to, the real, moving Jupiter that orbits the sun vs. the stationary, straw-man Jupiter that jumps out at you in bad faith retorts.

[JumpCrisscross]

> I didn't specify which Jupiter I was referring to, the real, moving Jupiter that orbits the sun

This is why I said you can't gravity assist around the Sun to travel around the Solar System. The Sun is moving around the galaxy at a terrific speed. But so is the Solar System. Dropping into and out of the Sun's gravity well does nothing other than change your trajectory.