Home - Search - Browse - Alphabetic Index: 0- 1- 2- 3- 4- 5- 6- 7- 8- 9
A- B- C- D- E- F- G- H- I- J- K- L- M- N- O- P- Q- R- S- T- U- V- W- X- Y- Z
Ranger 3-4-5
Part of Ranger
Ranger 3, 4, 5
Ranger 3, 4, 5
Credit: NASA
American lunar lander.

Status: Operational 1962. First Launch: 1962-01-26. Last Launch: 1962-10-18. Number: 3 . Gross mass: 331 kg (729 lb).

The ambitious middle series of Ranger spacecraft were designed to transmit pictures of the lunar surface to Earth stations (during a period of 10 minutes of flight prior to impacting on the Moon), to rough-land a seismometer capsule on the Moon, to collect gamma-ray data in flight, to study radar reflectivity of the lunar surface, and to continue testing of the Ranger program for development of lunar and interplanetary spacecraft.

The basic vehicle consisted of a lunar capsule covered with a balsa wood impact-limiter, 27.5 cm in diameter, a retrorocket with a silvered plastic thermal shield, and a gold- and chrome-plated hexagonal base 1.5 m in diameter. Two wing-like solar panels (5.2 m across) were attached to the base and deployed early in the flight. Power was generated by solar panels containing 8680 solar cells. The capacity of the AgZn launching and backup battery was 1000 W-hours, and the six AgCd batteries were capable of operating the lunar capsule transmitter for 30 days.

The experimental apparatus included: (1) a vidicon television camera, which employed a scan mechanism that yielded one complete frame in 10 s; (2) a gamma-ray spectrometer; (3) a radar altimeter; (4) a seismometer to be rough-landed on the lunar surface; (5) an earth-controlled command system; (6) telemetry; (7) a power supply of AgZn batteries charged by solar cells; and (8) timing, orientation, and temperature control devices. Telemetry aboard the spacecraft included two 960 MHz transmitters, one at 3 W power output and the other at 50 mW power output.

The combined lunar impact/landing mission on these early probes proved too ambitious and none successfully completed their missions.



Family: Moon. Country: USA. Launch Vehicles: Atlas, Atlas Agena B. Projects: Ranger. Launch Sites: Cape Canaveral, Cape Canaveral LC12. Agency: JPL, NASA. Bibliography: 16, 2, 278, 296, 4040, 4045, 4055, 6.
Photo Gallery

Ranger 3, 4, 5Ranger 3, 4, 5
Credit: NASA


Ranger 3Ranger 3
Credit: Manufacturer Image



1959 December 21 - .
1960 May 4 - .
1961 July 24 - .
1962 January 26 - . 20:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC12. LV Family: Atlas. Launch Vehicle: Atlas Agena B. FAILURE: Agena B second stage guidance system failure. Failed Stage: U.
1962 April 23 - . 20:50 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC12. LV Family: Atlas. Launch Vehicle: Atlas Agena B.
1962 October 15 - .
1962 October 18 - . 16:59 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC12. LV Family: Atlas. Launch Vehicle: Atlas Agena B.

Back to top of page
Home - Search - Browse - Alphabetic Index: 0- 1- 2- 3- 4- 5- 6- 7- 8- 9
A- B- C- D- E- F- G- H- I- J- K- L- M- N- O- P- Q- R- S- T- U- V- W- X- Y- Z
© 1997-2019 Mark Wade - Contact
© / Conditions for Use