1961-021A
Launch of Ranger I (P-32) was at 1004:10 by Atlas Agena B from Cape Canaveral. At 1006 (T+2:10) the Atlas separated at an altitude of 61 km. The fairing separated at T+4:40. The Agena B ignited at 1009 (T+4:56) at an altitude of 168 km. The 3280 kg Ranger/Agena combination entered orbit at 1011 (T+7:23) at an altitude of 186 km. The Agena B restarted at 1024 but shut down prematurely, imparting a delta-V of only 70 m/s of the required 3180 m/s. The Agena separated and Ranger I was left in a 179 x 446 km x 32.9 deg orbit. It transmitted until Aug 27 and reentered over the Gulf of Mexico on Aug 30.
| Ranger 1 | |||
| Date | Time | Event | Orbit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 Aug 23 | 1004:10 | Launch by Atlas Agena B | |
| BECO | |||
| 1006 | T+2:10 Booster sep | ||
| 1008:50 | T+4:40 Fairing sep | ||
| 1008:50 | Atlas sep | ||
| 1009:06 | T+4:56 Agena B MES-1 | ||
| 1011:33 | T+7:23 Agena B MECO-1 | 186 x 224? x 32.9 | |
| 1024 | Agena B MES-2 | ||
| 1024 | Agena B MECO-2 70m/s | ||
| 1027:23 | Agena B sep | 179 x 446 x 32.9 | |
| 1034? | Agena solid retro | ||
| 1961 Aug 27 | 0549 | End of transmissions | |
| 1961 Aug 28 | 2353 | Last transponder and beacon signal | |
| 1961 Aug 30 | 0830? | Reentered | |
