Ranger 1

Ranger 1
Ranger 1 Satellite in preparation for use at the Parade of Progress Show at the Public Hall, Cleveland, Ohio, August 1964
Mission typeTechnology
OperatorNASA
Harvard designation1961 Phi 1
COSPAR ID1961-021A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.173
Mission duration7 days
Spacecraft properties
ManufacturerJet Propulsion Laboratory
Launch mass306.2 kilograms (675 lb)
Power150.0 W
Start of mission
Launch dateAugust 23, 1961, 10:04:10 (1961-08-23UTC10:04:10Z) UTC
RocketAtlas LV-3 Agena-B
Launch siteCape Canaveral LC-12
End of mission
Decay date30 August 1961 (1961-08-31)
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth
(High Earth planned)
Semi-major axis6,690.3 kilometres (4,157.2 mi)
Eccentricity0.019939
Perigee altitude179 kilometres (111 mi)
Apogee altitude446 kilometres (277 mi)
Inclination32.9 degrees
Period91.1 minutes
Revolution no.110
← None

Ranger 1 was a prototype spacecraft launched as part of the Ranger program of uncrewed space missions. Its primary mission was to test the performance of those functions and parts necessary for carrying out subsequent lunar and planetary missions; a secondary objective was to study the nature of particles and fields in the space environment. Due to a launch vehicle malfunction, the spacecraft could reach only Low Earth orbit, rather than the high Earth orbit that had been planned, and was only able to complete part of its mission.[1]