A lunar flyby involves a spacecraft passing close to the Moon without entering its orbit or landing on its surface. These missions are crucial for testing new...
A lunar flyby is a space maneuver where a spacecraft travels past the Moon at a relatively close distance, using its gravity to alter the spacecraft's trajectory without entering a stable orbit or performing a landing.
Lunar flybys serve to test spacecraft systems and instruments in deep space, gather scientific data about the Moon's gravitational field and environment, and provide crucial experience for more complex future missions like orbital insertions or crewed landings.
A flyby involves a single pass and continues on its trajectory, while a lunar orbit requires sustained propulsion to remain circling the Moon, and a landing involves a controlled descent to the lunar surface.
Historical examples include Luna 1 (USSR) and Pioneer 4 (USA) in 1959. More recently, NASA's uncrewed Artemis I mission conducted a significant lunar flyby in 2022, paving the way for future human returns to the Moon.