Able 5B (Pioneer P-31)
Able 5B was the third U.S. attempt in 1959–1960 to reach lunar orbit. It was designed to measure radiation near the Moon, record micrometeoroid impacts, search for a lunar magnetic field, and study nearby proton populations with a plasma probe.
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Identity
- Aliases
- Able 5BPioneer P-31Pioneer P-31 / Able VB
- Name
- Able 5B (Pioneer P-31)
- Status
- failed
Details
- Astronauts
- -
- Description
- Able 5B was the third U.S. attempt in 1959–1960 to reach lunar orbit. It was designed to measure radiation near the Moon, record micrometeoroid impacts, search for a lunar magnetic field, and study nearby proton populations with a plasma probe.
- Destination
- Planned lunar orbit; the Atlas Able booster exploded seconds after launch and the payload fell into the Atlantic Ocean
- End Date
- 1960-12-15
- Outcome
- The Atlas Able booster malfunctioned 66.68 seconds after launch; the Able upper stage ignited prematurely while the first stage was still firing, and the vehicle exploded at about 12.2 kilometers altitude. The spacecraft was destroyed seconds after launch and the payload fell into the Atlantic.
- Programs
- Start Date
- 1960-12-15
- Vehicle Families
Links
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- August 14, 2026 at 18:18:57 UTC
- Updated Time
- September 7, 2026 at 20:30:01 UTC
- Image
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Other
- Affiliations
- Space Stations
- -
- Vehicles