Ranger 3

Ranger 3 was a spacecraft of the Ranger program Ranger program

The Ranger program was a series of unmanned space mission [i]s by the United States [i] in the 1960s who ... 

 that was launched to study the Moon Moon

The Moon is Earth [i]'s only natural satellite [i]. ... 

 on January 26, 1962. The space probe  was designed to transmit pictures of the lunar surface to Earth Earth

Earth is the third planet [i] in the solar system [i] in terms of distance from the Sun [i], and the fi ... 

 stations during a period of 10 minutes of flight prior to impacting on the Moon, to rough-land a seismometer Seismometer

Seismometer are used by seismologist [i]s to measure and record seismic wave [i]s. ... 

 capsule on the Moon, to collect gamma-ray Gamma ray

Gamma rays are an energetic form of electromagnetic radiation [i] produced by radioactive decay [i] or ... 

 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. Due to a series of malfunctions the spacecraft missed the Moon by 22,000 miles .

Discussions

Discussion Features

Ask a question about 'Ranger 3'    Start a new discussion about 'Ranger 3'    Answer questions about 'Ranger 3'    'Ranger 3' discussion forum

Timeline

1962   Ranger 3 is launched to study the Moon Moon The Moon is Earth [i]'s only natural satellite [i]. ...  . The space probe later misses the Moon by 22,000 miles.

Encyclopedia

Instruments Television : transmit closeup pictures of the lunar surface Seismometer : determine the presence or absence of lunar seismicity |} Ranger 3 was a spacecraft of the Ranger program Ranger program The Ranger program was a series of unmanned space mission [i]s by the United States [i] in the 1960s who...   that was launched to study the Moon Moon The Moon is Earth [i]'s only natural satellite [i]. ...   on January 26, 1962. The space probe  was designed to transmit pictures of the lunar surface to Earth Earth Earth is the third planet [i] in the solar system [i] in terms of distance from the Sun [i], and the fi ...   stations during a period of 10 minutes of flight prior to impacting on the Moon, to rough-land a seismometer Seismometer Seismometer are used by seismologist [i]s to measure and record seismic wave [i]s. ...   capsule on the Moon, to collect gamma-ray Gamma ray Gamma rays are an energetic form of electromagnetic radiation [i] produced by radioactive decay [i] or ...   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. Due to a series of malfunctions the spacecraft missed the Moon by 22,000 miles . Spacecraft design Ranger 3 was the first of the so-called Block II Ranger designs. The basic vehicle was 3.1 m high and consisted of a lunar capsule covered with a balsa wood impact-limiter, 650 mm in diameter, a mono-propellant mid-course motor, a retrorocket with a thrust of 5080 pounds force , and a gold- and chrome-plated hexagonal base 1.5 m in diameter. A large high-gain dish antenna was attached to the base. Two wing-like solar panels were attached to the base and deployed early in the flight. Power was generated by 8680 solar cells contained in the solar panels which charged a 11.5 kg 1 kWh capacity AgZn launching and backup battery. Spacecraft control was provided by a solid-state computer and sequencer and an earth-controlled command system. Attitude control was provided by Sun Sun |+ The Sun   |+ |- ...   and Earth Earth Earth is the third planet [i] in the solar system [i] in terms of distance from the Sun [i], and the fi ...   sensors, gyroscope Gyroscope A gyroscope is a device for measuring or maintaining orientation [i], based on the principl...  s, and pitch and roll jets. The telemetry system aboard the spacecraft consisted of two 960 MHz transmitters, one at 3 W power output and the other at 50 mW power output, the high-gain antenna, and an omni-directional antenna. White paint, gold and chrome plating, and a silvered plastic sheet encasing the retrorocket furnished thermal control. The experimental apparatus included: a vidicon Video camera tube In older video camera [i]s, before the 1990s [i], a video camera tube or pickup tube was used inst ...   television camera, which employed a scan mechanism that yielded one complete frame in 10 s; a gamma-ray spectrometer mounted on a 1.8 m boom; a radar altimeter; and a seismometer to be rough-landed on the lunar surface. The seismometer was encased in the lunar capsule along with an amplifier, a 50 mW transmitter, voltage control, a turnstile antenna, and 6 silver-cadmium batteries capable of operating the lunar capsule transmitter for 30 days, all designed to land on the Moon at 130 to 160 km/h . The radar altimeter would be used for reflectivity studies, but was also designed to initiate capsule separation and ignite the retro-rocket. Mission The mission was designed to boost towards the Moon by an Atlas/Agena, undergo one mid-course correction, and impact the lunar surface. At the appropriate altitude the capsule was to separate and the retrorockets ignite to cushion the landing. A malfunction in the booster guidance system resulted in excessive spacecraft speed. Reversed command signals caused the spacecraft to pitch in the wrong direction and the TM antenna to lose earth acquisition, and mid-course correction was not possible. Finally a spurious signal during the terminal maneuver prevented transmission of useful TV pictures. Ranger 3 missed the Moon by approximately 36,800 km on 28 January and is now in a heliocentric orbit. Some useful engineering data were obtained from the flight. This was the first U.S. attempt to achieve impact on the lunar surface. The Block II Ranger spacecraft carried a TV camera that used an optical telescope that would allow imaging down to about 24 kilometers above the lunar surface during the descent. The main bus also carried a 42.6-kilogram instrument capsule that would separate from the bus at 21.4 kilometers altitude and then independently impact on the Moon. Protected by a balsa-wood outer casing, the capsule was designed to bounce several times on the lunar surface before coming to rest. The primary onboard instrument was a seismometer. Because of a malfunction in the Atlas guidance system , the probe was inserted into a lunar transfer trajectory with an excessive velocity. A subsequent incorrect course change ensured that the spacecraft reached the Moon 14 hours early and missed it by 36,793 kilometers on 28 January. The central computer and sequencer failed and the spacecraft returned no TV images. The probe did, however, provide scientists with the first measurements of interplanetary gamma-ray flux. Ranger 3 eventually entered heliocentric orbit. External link Email Print Bookmark Link Categories: Ranger program