Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A flight passing close to a specified target or position, especially a maneuver in which a spacecraft or satellite passes sufficiently close to a body to make detailed observations without orbiting or landing.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A flight past a celestial object in order to make observations.
  • noun US A low-level flight of ceremonial nature, typically in connection with an airshow or a military parade.
  • noun A brief visit to an IRC channel

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Satellite to be junked because lunar flyby is patented

    Boing Boing 2008

  • It uses the former Deep Impact flyby, which is so far from anything else that sat-to-sat links would be e. x.t.r.e.m.e.l.y slow or impossible, given the low RF gain and power available.

    Extending Cyberspace Into Outer Space - NASA Watch 2009

  • The most important aspect of the flyby was a critical gravity assist to remain on course to enter into orbit around Mercury in 2011.

    Mercury Gives Up More Secrets to MESSENGER | Universe Today 2009

  • However, as Emily Lakdawalla pointed on in the Planetary Blog, the most important purpose of this flyby was the last gravity assist that will allow MESSENGER to enter orbit in 2011, and to that end, the flyby was a complete success.

    MESSENGER Went Into Safe Mode Approaching Mercury | Universe Today 2009

  • Scientists for the Cassini mission called their flyby of Saturn's small moon Enceladus on August 11 a "skeet shoot" - partially in honor of the current Olympic games un ...

    Feeds4all documents in category 'SEO' 2008

  • Scientists for the Cassini mission called their flyby of Saturn's small moon Enceladus on August 11 a "skeet shoot" - partially in honor of the current Olympic games un ...

    Feeds4all documents in category 'SEO' 2008

  • Keith's note: My earlier characterization of the event at KSC as being a "flyby" was due in great part to the nearth total blackout in terms of what would be happening.

    NASA Watch: Videos: April 2010 Archives 2010

  • Keith's note: My earlier characterization of the event at KSC as being a "flyby" was due in great part to the nearth total blackout in terms of what would be happening.

    NASA Watch: Keith Cowing: April 2010 Archives 2010

  • This video is a "flyby" of immense universal structures.

    Millenium Simulation JDsg 2007

  • Keith's note: My earlier characterization of the event at KSC as being a "flyby" was due in great part to the nearth total blackout in terms of what would be happening.

    NASA Watch Keith Cowing 2010

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