When wanting to exit our solar system, do we have to always go outward from the sun in the direction of the other planets? Or can we simply travel “north”?

Question

When wanting to exit our solar system, do we have to always go outward from the sun in the direction of the other planets? Or can we simply travel “north”?

In: 332

Answer 1

Apparently because of the gravitational reasons already mentioned here, the way to do it is to start on the orbital plane and gradually raise the angle of exit over several orbits, so eventually you’re traveling far enough ‘north’ to escape while still maintaining some momentum. You would never get to 90*, but you wouldn’t need to.