Ranger

The Ranger (BDB Burke) series of probes were designed to take close up images of the lunar surface before impacting on the moon. Block 1 flights were engineering tests for the Atlas-Agena launch vehicle and were instrumented for high earth orbit science, and so were not equipped with a mid course correction engine. Block 2 sported a seismometer housed in a separate capsule that was slowed by a rocket motor to survive impact on the surface while Block 3 had a high resolution film camera. The Ranger design was used as the basis for Mariner 1 & 2 Venus flyby probes.

Build Notes

• Some of the experiments need multiple parts to work, such as the Burke Electrostatic Analyser which needs both EDA1 and EDA2.
• The fuel and thrust of the Staara-10 SRM on Block 2 should be adjusted to suit the gravity of the target body for a soft landing. It is recommended to put the SRM Shut Down action in an Action Group. Crash tolerance of the probe is approx 50 m/s.