Able 4B (Pioneer P-3)
Able 4B (Pioneer P-3) was the physical lunar-orbiter spacecraft launched on 26 November 1959 on the first Atlas-with-upper-stage deep-space payload test. Its nose shroud failed 45 seconds after liftoff, the payload broke away during first-stage flight, and the spacecraft was destroyed.
Identity
- Aliases
- Able 4B spacecraftPioneer P-3P-3 / Able IVB
- Name
- Able 4B (Pioneer P-3)
- Status
- retired
Details
- Description
- Able 4B (Pioneer P-3) was the physical lunar-orbiter spacecraft launched on 26 November 1959 on the first Atlas-with-upper-stage deep-space payload test. Its nose shroud failed 45 seconds after liftoff, the payload broke away during first-stage flight, and the spacecraft was destroyed.
- First Flight Date
- 1959-11-26
- Vehicle Family
Links
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- August 6, 2026 at 19:59:33 UTC
- Updated Time
- August 6, 2026 at 19:59:33 UTC
Other
- Last Flight Date
- 1959-11-26
- Serial Number
- Able 4B
- Vehicle Code
- Able 4B