Flyby (spaceflight)

Imagery collected by Voyager 2 of Ganymede during its flyby of the Jovian system
Galileo spacecraft encounters asteroid 243 Ida

A flyby (/ˈflaɪbaɪ/) is a spaceflight operation in which a spacecraft passes in proximity to another body, usually a target of its space exploration mission and/or a source of a gravity assist (also called swing-by) to impel it towards another target.[1] Spacecraft which are specifically designed for this purpose are known as flyby spacecraft, although the term has also been used in regard to asteroid flybys of Earth for example.[2][3] Important parameters are the time and distance of closest approach.[4]

  1. ^ "Basics of Space Flight - Solar System Exploration: NASA Science". Solar System Exploration: NASA Science. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  2. ^ "Basics of Space Flight - Solar System Exploration: NASA Science". Solar System Exploration: NASA Science. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  3. ^ "'Tunguska'-Size Asteroid Makes Surprise Flyby of Earth". Space.com. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  4. ^ "Titan A Flyby Closest Approach". sci.esa.int. Retrieved 2018-11-04.