Able 3 (Pioneer 2) lunar deep-space-probe spacecraft family
The Able 3 (Pioneer 2) family represents the third U.S. lunar-probe attempt and NASA second official deep-space launch, flown on 8 November 1958. A premature second-stage shutdown and third-stage ignition failure kept the probe from the Moon; it reached 951 miles altitude, returned scientific data, and burned up in Earth atmosphere 42 minutes after launch.
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Identity
- Aliases
- Able 3Pioneer 2Pioneer 2 Able 3
- Family Name
- Able 3 (Pioneer 2)
- Full Name
- Able 3 (Pioneer 2) lunar deep-space-probe spacecraft family
- Roles
- interplanetary_probetechnology_demonstrator
- Status
- retired
- Type
- spacecraft
Details
- Description
- The Able 3 (Pioneer 2) family represents the third U.S. lunar-probe attempt and NASA second official deep-space launch, flown on 8 November 1958. A premature second-stage shutdown and third-stage ignition failure kept the probe from the Moon; it reached 951 miles altitude, returned scientific data, and burned up in Earth atmosphere 42 minutes after launch.
- First Flight Year
- 1,958
- Last Flight Year
- 1,958
Links
- Official Url
- https://science.nasa.gov/mission/pioneer-2/
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- August 6, 2026 at 19:45:08 UTC
- Updated Time
- August 6, 2026 at 19:45:08 UTC