Ranger 7

NSSDC ID: 64-041A

Description:
Ranger 7 was designed to achieve a lunar impact trajectory and 
to transmit high-resolution photographs of the lunar surface during
the final minutes of flight. The spacecraft carried six television 
cameras,an optical earth sensor and high-gain antenna for 
optimum communications, and solar panels to provide power (as 
well as additional engineering equipment). The telecommunications 
equipment converted the composite video signal from the camera
transmitters into an RF signal for subsequent transmission through
the space-craft high-gain antenna. Sufficient video bandwidth was 
provided to allow for rapid framing sequences of both narrow- and 
wide-angle television pictures. The spacecraft encountered the 
lunar surface in direct motion along a hyperbolic trajectory, with 
an incoming asymptotic direction at an angle of -5.57 degrees
from the lunar equator. The orbit plane was inclined 26.84 degrees 
to the lunar equator. After 68.6 hours of flight, impact occurred in
an area between Mare Nubium and Oceanus Procellarum 
(subsequently named Mare Cognitum). Velocity at impact was 
2.62 km/s. The spacecraft performance was excellent. Trans-
mission of over 4,300 photographs occurred during the final 17
minutes of flight, from 1308 UT to 1325 UT on July 31, 1964. 

Launch Information:
Launch Date/Time: 1964-07-28
Launch Site/Country: Cape Canaveral, United States
On-orbit dry mass: 361.80 kg
Nominal Power Output: 200.00 W
Launch Vehicle: Atlas-Agena B