test flight

noun

1. a flight made to observe the performance characteristics of a new aircraft or spacecraft.

Word History and Origins

Origin of test flight¹

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

Following a successful test flight for Starship, SpaceX is done with launches for the year and will be working to ready the next generation of its technology — in pursuit of lofty ambitions like an eventual colonization of Mars.

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SpaceX's massive Starship rocket soared into its 11th test flight Monday, as the US company vies to ready its aerospace technology to deliver NASA's lunar projects and fulfill Elon Musk's Mars ambitions.

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Last month, in its 10th test flight, the rocket finally succeeded in a suborbital mission.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

SpaceX has pulled off a successful test flight of its newest generation rocket Starship, reversing a trend of disappointing failures.

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The signs were positive from the start of Tuesday's test flight.

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