MISSION NAME
Ranger 3 3
Status
Success
DATE
26 JAN 1962
LAUNCH PROVIDER
United States Air Force
Launch Pad
Launch Complex 12
Description
Ranger 3 was a spacecraft designed to transmit pictures of the lunar surface during the last 10 minutes prior to impacting the Moon. A malfunction in the booster guidance system resulted in excessive spacecraft speed. Ranger 3 missed the Moon by 36,800 km and is now in a heliocentric orbit.
Atlas LV-3 Agena B
Rocket Description
The Atlas LV-3A was a largely unsuccessful configuration until it was given an Agena B upper stage. It was responsible for the launch of Mariner II to Venus and had one of the first engines that could be restarted in orbit.