Able 4B (Pioneer P-3) lunar-orbiter spacecraft family
The Able 4B (Pioneer P-3) family was a 1959 U.S. lunar-orbiter probe designed to study the Earth-Moon environment, test deep-space maneuvering, and image the lunar surface. Its Atlas Able launch failed when the nose shroud broke away during first-stage flight and the payload was destroyed.
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Identity
- Aliases
- Able 4BPioneer P-3
- Family Name
- Able 4B (Pioneer P-3)
- Full Name
- Able 4B (Pioneer P-3) lunar-orbiter spacecraft family
- Roles
- orbiterinterplanetary_probetechnology_demonstrator
- Status
- retired
- Type
- spacecraft
Details
- Description
- The Able 4B (Pioneer P-3) family was a 1959 U.S. lunar-orbiter probe designed to study the Earth-Moon environment, test deep-space maneuvering, and image the lunar surface. Its Atlas Able launch failed when the nose shroud broke away during first-stage flight and the payload was destroyed.
- First Flight Year
- 1,959
- Last Flight Year
- 1,959
Links
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- August 6, 2026 at 19:57:39 UTC
- Updated Time
- August 6, 2026 at 19:57:39 UTC