Ranger 2

2025-10-13T01:24:42Z

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{{Infobox spaceflight
| name = Ranger 2
| image = Ranger 2.jpg
| image_caption = Ranger 2

| mission_type = Technology
| operator = [[NASA]]
| website =
| Harvard_designation = 1961 Alpha Theta 1
| COSPAR_ID = 1961-032A
| SATCAT = 206
| mission_duration = 2 days

| spacecraft_type =
| manufacturer = [[Jet Propulsion Laboratory]]
| dry_mass =
| launch_mass = {{convert|304|kg|lb}}
| power = 150 W

| launch_date = {{start-date|18 November 1961, 08:09:00|timezone=yes}} UTC
| launch_rocket = [[Atlas-Agena|Atlas LV-3 Agena-B]]
| launch_site = [[Cape Canaveral Air Force Station|Cape Canaveral]] [[Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 12|LC-12]]
| launch_contractor =
| decay_date = {{end-date|20 November 1961}}

| orbit_epoch =
| orbit_regime = [[Low Earth orbit|Low Earth]]<br/><small>([[High Earth orbit|High Earth]] planned)</small>
| orbit_reference = [[geocentric orbit|Geocentric]]
| orbit_periapsis = {{convert|150|km}}
| orbit_apoapsis = {{convert|242|km}}
| orbit_inclination = 33.3 degrees
| orbit_period = ~89 minutes
| orbit_semimajor = {{convert|6574.2|km}}
| orbit_eccentricity =
| apsis = gee

| instruments_list =
{{Infobox spaceflight/Instruments
|name1 = [[Lyman-Alpha Telescope]]
|name2 = [[Magnetometer|Rubidium Vapor Magnetometer]]
|name3 = Electrostatic Analyzer
|name4 = Medium Energy Particle Detectors
|name5 = [[Cosmic ray]] [[Ion]] Chamber
|name6 = [[Cosmic Dust]] Detectors
|name7 = [[X-ray]] Scintillantion Counters
|name8 = [[Telescope|Triple Coincident Telescope]]
}}

| programme = ''[[Ranger program|Ranger]]''
| previous_mission = [[Ranger 1]]
| next_mission = [[Ranger 3]]
}}

'''Ranger 2''' was a flight test of the Ranger spacecraft system of the [[NASA]] [[Ranger program]] designed for future lunar and [[interplanetary mission]]s. Ranger 2 was designed to test various systems for future [[exploration]] and to conduct scientific observations of [[cosmic ray]]s, [[magnetic field]]s, [[radiation]], dust particles, and a possible [[hydrogen|hydrogen gas]] "tail" trailing the Earth.<ref name="nssdc1961-032A" >[[Ranger 6#nssdc1961-032A|National Space Science Data Center, Ranger 2, NSSDC ID: 1961-032A]]</ref>

== Spacecraft design ==

[[File:NASA FACTS Volume 2 number 6 PROJECT RANGER image 01.jpg|thumb|left|Artist's conception of Ranger 2 spacecraft.]]
Ranger 2 was of the Ranger Block 1 design and was almost identical to [[Ranger 1]]. The spacecraft consisted of a [[hexagonal]] base {{convert|1.5|m}} across, upon which was mounted a cone-shaped {{convert|4|m|ft|adj=mid|-high|abbr=off|sp=us}} tower of aluminum struts and braces. Two [[Photovoltaic module|solar panel]] wings measuring {{convert|5.2|m}} from tip to tip extended from the base. A high-gain directional [[dish antenna]] was attached to the bottom of the base. Spacecraft experiments and other equipment were mounted on the base and tower. Instruments aboard the spacecraft included a [[Lyman-alpha telescope]], a [[rubidium|rubidium-vapor]] [[magnetometer]], [[electrostatic]] analyzers, medium-energy-range [[particle detector]]s, two [[triple coincidence telescope]]s, a cosmic-ray integrating [[ionization chamber]], [[cosmic dust]] detectors, and [[scintillation counter]]s.<ref name="nssdc1961-032A" />

The [[communications system]] included the high-gain [[Antenna (radio)|antenna]] and an omnidirectional medium-gain antenna and two transmitters at approximately 960 [[MHz]], one with 0.25 [[Watt|W]] power output and the other with 3 W power output. Power was to be furnished by 8680 [[solar cells]] on the two panels, a {{convert|53.5|kg}} [[silver-zinc battery]], and smaller batteries on some of the experiments. Attitude control was provided by a [[solid state (electronics)|solid state]] timing controller, [[Sun]] and [[Earth]] sensors, [[gyroscopes]], and [[Pitch (flight)|pitch]] and roll [[Jet engine|jet]]s. The temperature was controlled passively by gold plating, white paint, and polished [[aluminum]] surfaces.<ref name="nssdc1961-032A" />

== Mission ==
Shortly after [[Ranger 1]]'s unsuccessful mission, [[Atlas-Agena|Atlas 117D]] and [[Atlas-Agena|Agena 6002]] were rolled out to [[Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 12|LC-12]] for the next attempt. Once again, getting the booster and spacecraft ready for flight proved a frustrating experience. On October 24, [[NASA]] received the news from the [[West Coast of the United States]] that a hydraulics failure had prevented [[Discoverer 33]] from reaching orbit the previous day, which necessitated taking Agena 6002 down from the stack and giving it a thorough checkout. The stage was found to have the same problem as [[Discoverer 33]]'s Agena, necessitating repair work. It took until mid-November before everything was finally ready. Liftoff took place at 3:12 AM EST on November 18. An improper autopilot signal resulted in Atlas BECO taking place 0.4 seconds early. Thus the sustainer phase of flight was initiated with below nominal velocity, but the vehicle reached orbit successfully since the guidance computer was programmed to not issue the SECO command until the proper velocity was achieved. A similar event occurred on the launch of SAMOS 4 a few days later and was caused by the switch malfunctioning from its location on the side of the extremely cold LOX tank. The switch was moved to the fuel tank on subsequent Atlas-Agena vehicles.<ref>"Flight Evaluation Report Atlas 117D, December 1, 1961 Convair"</ref>

An inoperative roll gyro caused loss of Agena roll control from the moment of staging. The first burn was performed successfully but the control gas was exhausted trying to keep the vehicle stable so when it came time for restart, the engine shut down after only one second of operation due to ingestion of control gas. Unlike with [[Ranger 1]], the Agena had not operated long enough to achieve any significant ISP and so the probe was left in an even [[Low Earth orbit|lower orbit]]. Tracking antennas could not lock onto the probe or send it any commands, nor could the attitude control system stabilize it. [[Telemetry]] and instrument data were still received for a few hours, but eventually the orbit decayed too low and after only one day and 19 orbits, Ranger 2 reentered the [[atmosphere]] and burned up. As a result of the failure, Agena vehicles would get a version of the Atlas's Spin Motor Rotation Detection System to ensure proper gyroscope operation at launch.<ref>"Agena Flight History as of 31 December 1967, Office of Information Space and Missile Systems Organization Air Force Systems Command"</ref><ref name="nssdc1961-032A" />

==See also==
{{Portal|Spaceflight}}
* [[Ranger program]]
* [[Timeline of Solar System exploration]]
* [[List of artificial objects on the Moon]]

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
*{{cite web |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1961-032A|title=National Space Science Data Center - Ranger 2|author= |date=|publisher=National Air and Space Administration|accessdate=19 June 2012|ref=nssdc1961-032A}}

==External links==
*[https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19680073994_1968073994.pdf Space Flight Operations Memorandum - Ranger 2 (Post-flight Mission Analysis)]
*[https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19780007206_1978007206.pdf Lunar impact: A history of Project Ranger (PDF) 1977]

{{Ranger program | before=[[Ranger 1]] | after=[[Ranger 3]] }}
{{Orbital launches in 1961}}

{{Use American English|date=January 2014}}

[[Category:Ranger program|2]]
[[Category:Spacecraft launched in 1961]]
[[Category:Spacecraft which reentered in 1961]]

Wikipedia - User contributions [en]

Ranger 2