society > travel > air or space travel > space flight > [noun] > a space shot or flight > course or trajectory of spacecraft > close approach to a celestial body (2)
In space flights: a close approach to a celestial body for the purpose of observation; a spacecraft that makes such an approach.
Astronautics. A flight by a spacecraft through a particular area, esp. the tail of a comet, for the purpose of observation. Cf. fly-by, n. b, fly-past…