reflight

Reflight is a term used in aviation and spaceflight to describe a flight that is flown again, either because the original flight did not occur as planned or as a planned repeat using the same vehicle or crew. In practice, reflights occur after an aborted or failed mission, after a mission was postponed due to weather, or when a planned objective is attempted again on a subsequent flight.

In spaceflight, reflights can involve launching a new mission with the same launch vehicle, spacecraft, or components that have been refurbished or returned to service. Reflight strategies are common with reusable launch systems, where a recovered booster or capsule is prepared for another flight. Reflights may reduce overall mission costs and increase cadence, but they also require extensive refurbishment, testing, and certification to ensure safety.

In aviation, the term is less formal but can be used to describe a flight that is operated again if the initial departure is canceled, or when a different aircraft is substituted for a scheduled flight. The concept is primarily associated with mission planning, training exercises, and the operation of reusable space hardware rather than routine passenger scheduling.

Overall, reflights reflect a practical approach to repeat missions and component reuse, balancing safety, cost, and schedule considerations in modern aerospace operations.