Ranger 7

Ranger 7 was a space probe of the U.S. space agency NASA. She was the seventh probe as part of the Ranger program for exploration of the moon. She was like Ranger 6 built in the so-called Block III Design and weighed 365 kg. Significant changes in contrast to Ranger 6 was an improved protection against short circuits. Like the previous missions they should make in the final minutes before impact images of the lunar surface and send back to Earth.

Mission

Ranger 7 was launched on 28 July 1964 on an Atlas - Agena B rocket from LC - 12 of the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station After reaching the parking orbit at 192 km altitude, the Agena upper stage and Ranger 7 lighted headed for the moon. On July 31, 1964 at 13:08 clock the first picture of the moon's surface was taken from an altitude of 2110 km. Total transmitted Ranger in the last 17 minutes before impacting the lunar surface 4305 images in an excellent quality. The last image transmitted before impact had a resolution of 0.5 meters. Ranger 7 hit by 68- hour flight at a speed of 2.62 km / s at Mare Nubium.

The mission was a success.