File:Ranger 4 preparations.jpg

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Ranger_4_preparations.jpg (409 × 433 pixels, file size: 48 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg)

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Ranger 4 Preparations Technicians prepare the Ranger 4 spacecraft for launch. An impact absorbing sphere made of balsa wood sits atop the spacecraft, painted with a saw-tooth pattern to maintain thermal balance during its mission to the Moon. The sphere contained a lunar seismometer, which was to rough land just south of the equator on the rim of the Ocean of Storms and measure "lunarquakes."

The master clock in Ranger 4's computer failed during flight and the spacecraft did not respond to commands. It crashed into the far side of the Moon on April 26, 1962. Despite the failure to return information, the use of balsa wood was an important precursor in the design of other rough landings on extraterrestrial bodies, particularly Mars. Aerobraking, gliding, impact absorption, parachuting, and retro rockets have all been considered.
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Source http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/multimedia/display.cfm?IM_ID=1565
Author Image Credit: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
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(Reusing this file)		 http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/copyright/index.cfm

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Public domain This file is in the public domain in the United States because it was solely created by NASA. NASA copyright policy states that "NASA material is not protected by copyright unless noted". (See Template:PD-USGov, NASA copyright policy page or JPL Image Use Policy.)
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current07:17, 19 September 2006Thumbnail for version as of 07:17, 19 September 2006409 × 433 (48 KB)Uwe W. (talk | contribs){{Information |Description='''Ranger 4 Preparations''' Technicians prepare the Ranger 4 spacecraft for launch. An impact absorbing sphere made of balsa wood sits atop the spacecraft, painted with a saw-tooth pattern to maintain thermal balance during its

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