Ranger 9

NASA lunar impactor. Ranger 9 was launched on March 21, 1965 aboard a Atlas Agena B from Cape Canaveral & Kennedy. Latest status in GCAT: left Earth orbit for deep space (Mar 24, 1965).

COSPAR 1965-023ANORAD 1294United States

Identity

Name in GCAT: Ranger 9
Payload designation: RA-9
International designator: 1965-023A
NORAD catalog number: 1294
GCAT identifier: S01294
UN registration: A/AC.105/INF.102

Mission

Mission type: Deep space
Use: Civil government
Program: Ranger III
Owner: JPL
Country: United States
Builder: Jet Propulsion Lab
Platform (bus): Ranger Block III

Launch

Date: March 21, 1965 · 21:37 UTC
Launch record: 1965-023Success
Rocket: Atlas Agena B
Spaceport: Cape Canaveral & Kennedy · pad LC12

Orbit and fate

Orbit class (GCAT): CLO
Perigee: 188 km
Apogee: 772,332 km
Inclination: 28.50°
Status: Left Earth orbit for deep space
Status date: March 24, 1965
Last known active: Mar 24, 1965
End of operations: Mar 24, 1965

Size

Mass: 368 kg
Dry mass: 367 kg
Length: 3.0 m
Diameter: 1.50 m
Span: 4.6 m

Deep space

Deep-space catalog entry: D00063
Final central body: Luna
Phase start: March 24, 1965
Phase outcome: Reentered (orbital decay) · March 24, 1965
Destination: Luna

Flight phases

From	Central body	Ended	Outcome	Next
Mar 21, 1965	Earth	Mar 24, 1965	Escaped to another body	Luna

Landings and impacts

World	Type	Result	Touchdown	Site	Coordinates
Luna	Impactor	Targeted impact	Mar 24, 1965	—	-12.83, -2.39

Source: GCAT payload, deep-space and lander catalogs, Jonathan C. McDowell (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata Q862563 (CC0).