Ranger 8

NSSDC ID: 65-010A
Description:

Ranger 8 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 spacecraft high-gain antenna. Sufficient video band-
width was provided to allow for rapid framing sequences of both
narrow- and wide-angle television pictures. The spacecraft
encountered the lunar surface in a direct hyperbolic trajectory,
with incoming asymptotic direction at an angle of -13.6 degrees
from the lunar equator. The orbit plane was inclined 16.5 degrees
to the lunar equator. After 64.9 hours of flight, impact occurred at
09:57:36.8 UT in Mare Tranquillitatis. The spacecraft performance
was excellent. The spacecraft transmitted 7,137 photographs
during the final 23 minutes of flight, 0934 UT to 0957 UT, on
February 20, 1965. 

Launch Information:
Launch Date/Time: 1965-02-17 at 17:05:00 UTC
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