# Ranger 9

> NASA lunar impactor

**Wikidata**: [Q862563](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q862563)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranger_9)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ranger-9

## Summary
Ranger 9 was a NASA lunar impactor, designed as an impact probe to deliberately collide with the Moon. Launched on March 21, 1965, it was part of the Ranger program, which focused on uncrewed lunar exploration. The spacecraft successfully impacted the Moon on March 24, 1965.

## Key Facts
*   Ranger 9 was an impact probe, a type of spacecraft designed to deliberately impact a celestial body without braking.
*   It was part of the Ranger program.
*   The spacecraft was launched on March 21, 1965.
*   Its launch vehicle was an Atlas-Agena B expendable launch system.
*   Ranger 9 was manufactured by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
*   It had a mass of 366.9 kilograms.
*   The mission concluded with a lunar impact on March 24, 1965.
*   It was launched from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 12.
*   Ranger 9 followed Ranger 8 in the program series.

## FAQs
### Q: What was Ranger 9?
A: Ranger 9 was a NASA lunar impactor and an impact probe, meaning it was designed to deliberately collide with the Moon as part of its mission. It was a component of the broader Ranger program for uncrewed lunar exploration.

### Q: When was Ranger 9 launched?
A: Ranger 9 was launched on March 21, 1965, from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 12.

### Q: Who manufactured Ranger 9?
A: Ranger 9 was manufactured by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

### Q: What was the mass of Ranger 9?
A: The mass of Ranger 9 was 366.9 kilograms.

### Q: When did Ranger 9 impact the Moon?
A: Ranger 9 impacted the Moon on March 24, 1965.

## Why It Matters
Ranger 9 played a role in NASA's early efforts to explore and understand the Moon. As a lunar impactor and an impact probe, its mission contributed to the Ranger program's objectives of gathering data on the lunar surface. This uncrewed mission was part of the foundational steps in lunar exploration, providing valuable experience and information for subsequent space missions.

## Notable For
*   Being a NASA lunar impactor designed to deliberately collide with the Moon.
*   Its launch on March 21, 1965, from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 12.
*   Its successful lunar impact on March 24, 1965.
*   Being manufactured by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
*   Its use of the Atlas-Agena B launch vehicle.

## Body

### Overview
Ranger 9 was a NASA lunar impactor, classified as an impact probe. This type of spacecraft is designed to deliberately impact a celestial body without braking. It was an integral part of the Ranger program, a series of uncrewed missions dedicated to lunar exploration.

### Mission Details
#### Launch
Ranger 9 was launched on March 21, 1965. The launch originated from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 12. The spacecraft was propelled into space by an Atlas-Agena B, a type of expendable launch system.

#### Spacecraft Specifications
The spacecraft was manufactured by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. It had a mass of 366.9 kilograms and consumed 200 watts of power.

#### Lunar Impact
The mission culminated in Ranger 9 impacting the Moon on March 24, 1965. This event marked the end of its operational life.

#### Identification
Ranger 9 is identified by several codes, including COSPAR ID 1965-023A and NSSDC ID 1965-023A. Its SCN is 01294.

### Context
Ranger 9 followed Ranger 8 in the sequence of missions within the Ranger program.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013