See Also: ranger(1)(dictionary)
ranger(2)(dictionary)
ranger(dictionary)
Ranger(encyclopedia)
ranger(dictionary)
Sloane Ranger(dictionary)
park ranger(dictionary)

Ranger (sh)




Any of a series of unmanned probes launched from 1961 to 1965 by NASA.

The project was NASA's earliest attempt to explore the Moon's surface. Ranger 4 (1962) became the first U.S. spacecraft to hit the Moon, crash-landing on its surface as planned. The last three probes in the series (1964-65) sent more than 17,000 high-resolution photographs of the Moon before crashing. See also Luna; Pioneer; Surveyor.