203 



U.S.A. 



RANGER 

 NASA 



"Big Science" Descriptor ; Space: lunar and planetary probes 



Description of Facility/Instrument : These probes were Intended to 

 photograph the surface of the Moon up to the moment of landing 

 Impact. Difficulties in initial orbits and transmission meant 

 that a successful probe did not occur until RANGER 7. Early 

 failures were blamed on poor management, inadequate ground testing, 

 and degrading and deterioration of equipment during flight. 



Date of Construction: 1961-1965 (launches) 



Construction Cost: 



1984$$ : $468.9 million 



Present International Cooperation 



Natlonallty(s) of Ownership : U.S. 

 Natlonality(s) of Operational Funding: 



Nationallty(s) of Management Staff : 

 Natlonality(s) of Researchers; U.S. 



U.S. 



U.S. 



Other Information: 



Launched 



RANGER 1 

 RANGER 2 



RANGER 3 

 RANGER 4 

 RANGER 5 



August 23, 1961 

 November 18, 1961 



January 26, 1961 

 April 23, 1962 

 October 18, 1962 



BLOCK I: Successfully launched, 

 but did not escape Earth's orbit. 



BLOCK II: Came close to the Moon 

 (3, 5) and landed on the farslde (4), 

 All had limited technical success. 



RANGER 6 

 RANGER 7 

 RANGER 8 

 RANGER 9 



January 30, 1964 

 July 28, 1964 

 February 17, 1965 

 March 21, 1965 



BLOCK III: First full success with 

 7, 8, 9. All transmitted photos and 

 landed on the Moon. However, further 

 RANGER programs were cancelled. 



