Ranger 3 was NASA's P-34 lunar impact-probe spacecraft and the first U.S. attempt to put a probe on the Moon. Guidance and spacecraft malfunctions sent it past the Moon into heliocentric orbit after it returned interplanetary gamma-ray measurements.
Identity
Aliases
Ranger IIIP-34Ranger 3 spacecraft
Name
Ranger 3
Status
retired
Details
Description
Ranger 3 was NASA's P-34 lunar impact-probe spacecraft and the first U.S. attempt to put a probe on the Moon. Guidance and spacecraft malfunctions sent it past the Moon into heliocentric orbit after it returned interplanetary gamma-ray measurements.