Ranger 2 Lunar Prototype Spacecraft
Ranger 2 was NASA’s second Block 1 Ranger prototype, intended to reach a highly elliptical orbit beyond the Moon to test technologies and conduct space-environment experiments. An Agena guidance failure stranded it in low Earth orbit in 1961 before power was lost and it reentered.
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Identity
- Aliases
- Ranger 2Ranger IIRanger 2 lunar prototypeRanger 2 spacecraft
- Family Name
- Ranger 2
- Full Name
- Ranger 2 Lunar Prototype Spacecraft
- Roles
- interplanetary_probetechnology_demonstratorresearch
- Status
- retired
- Type
- spacecraft
Details
- Description
- Ranger 2 was NASA’s second Block 1 Ranger prototype, intended to reach a highly elliptical orbit beyond the Moon to test technologies and conduct space-environment experiments. An Agena guidance failure stranded it in low Earth orbit in 1961 before power was lost and it reentered.
- First Flight Year
- 1,961
- Last Flight Year
- 1,961
Links
- Official Url
- https://science.nasa.gov/mission/ranger-2/
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- August 13, 2026 at 12:12:52 UTC
- Updated Time
- August 13, 2026 at 12:12:52 UTC