1964-007A
The first Block III Ranger, Ranger VI (Ranger A, P-53) was launched at 1549:09 on 1964 Jan 30 by Atlas Agena B from Canaveral on a 95.0 deg azimuth. The fairing was jettisoned at 1554:15, the Atlas separated at 1554:19, and the Agena ignited at 1555:00. After a coast period the Agena reignited at 1616:27 for translunar injection. Ranger VI separated at 1619:23 and the Agena made a retro maneuver at 1626:09. Ranger VI made a course correction at 0857 on Jan 31, when the range to Earth was 170130 km. However the cameras failed the same day, and although the 368 kg probe impacted the lunar surface at 0924:33 on Feb 2, at 9.33N 21.52E, pictures weren’t returned.
According to the JPL mission report, the Agena flew past the lunar trailing edge at 3630 km and entered a 383.7 day heliocentric orbit.
The lunar impact trajectory was at 8.656 km/s at -48.49 deg, corresponding to a -608 x -3007 x 19.80 deg selenocentric orbit.
| Ranger 6 | |||
| Date | Time | Event | Orbit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 Jan 30 | 1549:09 | Launch by Atlas Agena B | CKAFS LC12 |
| T+2:16 BECO | |||
| 1550:16 | Cameras failed, arcing | ||
| 1553:57 | T+4:48 SECO | ||
| 1554:13 | T+5:04 VECO | ||
| 1554:15 | T+5:06 Fairing sep | ||
| 1554:17 | T+5:08 Atlas sep | ||
| 1555:01 | T+5:52 Agena burn | ||
| 1557:33 | T+8:24 Agena MECO-1 | 185 x 185 x 28.5 | |
| 1615:19 | T+26:10 Agena MES-2 | ||
| 1616:45 | T+27:36 Agena MECO-2 | ||
| 1619:23 | T+30:14 Agena sep | ||
| 1626:09 | Agena solid retro 13.7 m/s | ||
| 1650:06 | Solar panels extended | ||
| 1701:00 | Agena last data at 12400 km | ||
| 1964 Jan 31 | 0857:09 | MCC 67s 41.3m/s | |
| 0858:16 | MCC off | ||
| 1964 Feb 2 | 0924:33 | Lunar impact | |
