eli5: When probes are released into space they start to spin. What gives every object in space this momentum to rotate? Would it be possible to send something to space and release it very cautiously so it won’t get any energy from the releasing spacecraft and the object hence wouldn’t rotate?
In: Physics
It is totally possible to release an object into space without spinning it. We purposefully spin them. It helps them remain on planned trajectory. Same principle behind the spin on a football.
As for where the momentum comes from, most manmade craft will have jets angled to provide spin , but also the larger releasing object has more inertia than the released object.
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