Able 5B (Pioneer P-31) lunar-orbiter spacecraft family
Able 5B (Pioneer P-31) was NASA’s third and final 1959–1960 attempt to place a probe in lunar orbit. The Atlas Able booster malfunctioned and exploded seconds after the December 1960 launch, sending the payload into the Atlantic Ocean.
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Identity
- Aliases
- Pioneer P-31Able 5BP-31Pioneer 31
- Family Name
- Able 5B (Pioneer P-31)
- Full Name
- Able 5B (Pioneer P-31) lunar-orbiter spacecraft family
- Roles
- orbiterinterplanetary_probetechnology_demonstrator
- Status
- retired
- Type
- spacecraft
Details
- Description
- Able 5B (Pioneer P-31) was NASA’s third and final 1959–1960 attempt to place a probe in lunar orbit. The Atlas Able booster malfunctioned and exploded seconds after the December 1960 launch, sending the payload into the Atlantic Ocean.
- First Flight Year
- 1,960
- Last Flight Year
- 1,960
Links
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- August 13, 2026 at 07:39:29 UTC
- Updated Time
- August 13, 2026 at 07:39:29 UTC