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Ranger 1-2
Part of Ranger
Ranger 1, 2
Ranger 1, 2
Credit: NASA
American lunar impact probe.

Status: Operational 1961. First Launch: 1961-08-23. Last Launch: 1961-11-18. Number: 2 . Gross mass: 305 kg (672 lb).

The primary mission of the early Ranger flight models was to test the performance of those functions and parts that were necessary for carrying out later lunar (Ranger) and planetary (Mariner) missions using the same spacecraft bus. A secondary objective was to study the nature of particles and fields in interplanetary space.

The spacecraft consisted of a hexagonal base upon which were mounted the spacecraft experiments, two solar panels, and high-and low-gain antennas. Instruments aboard the spacecraft included a Lyman-alpha telescope, a rubidium-vapor magnetometer, electrostatic analyzers, medium-energy-range particle detectors, two triple coincidence telescopes, a cosmic-ray integrating ionization chamber, cosmic dust detectors, and scintillation counters. Two 960-mhz transmitters were aboard the spacecraft, one with 0.25 W power output and the other with 3 W power output.



Family: Lunar Crashers, Moon. Country: USA. Launch Vehicles: Atlas, Atlas SLV-3 Agena B, Atlas Agena B. Projects: Ranger. Launch Sites: Cape Canaveral, Cape Canaveral LC12. Agency: JPL, NASA. Bibliography: 16, 18, 2, 278, 296, 4046, 4047, 4050, 4051, 6.
Photo Gallery

Ranger 1Ranger 1
Credit: Manufacturer Image


Ranger ARanger A
Ranger A in assembly at JPL, Pasadena



1961 May 29 - . LV Family: Atlas. Launch Vehicle: Atlas SLV-3 Agena B.
1961 July 12 - .
1961 August 23 - . 10:04 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC12. LV Family: Atlas. Launch Vehicle: Atlas Agena B. FAILURE: Agena B second stage failure.. Failed Stage: U.
1961 November 18 - . 08:12 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC12. LV Family: Atlas. Launch Vehicle: Atlas Agena B. FAILURE: Agena B Second Stage failed to restart.. Failed Stage: U.

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