{"id":13117,"date":"2025-02-20T18:12:51","date_gmt":"2025-02-20T22:12:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zobi.alcowep.com\/bourtagshdrevxnls658739\/60-years-ago-ranger-8-moon-photos-aid-in-apollo-site-selection\/"},"modified":"2025-02-20T18:12:51","modified_gmt":"2025-02-20T22:12:51","slug":"60-years-ago-ranger-8-moon-photos-aid-in-apollo-site-selection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zobi.alcowep.com\/bourtagshdrevxnls658739\/60-years-ago-ranger-8-moon-photos-aid-in-apollo-site-selection\/","title":{"rendered":"60 Years Ago: Ranger 8 Moon Photos Aid in Apollo Site Selection\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

60 Years Ago: Ranger 8 Moon Photos Aid in Apollo Site Selection\u00a0<\/h2>\n

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Before Apollo astronauts set foot upon the Moon, much remained unknown about the lunar surface. While most scientists believed the Moon had a solid surface that would support astronauts and their landing craft, a few believed a deep layer of dust covered it that would swallow any visitors. Until 1964, no closeup photographs of the lunar surface existed, only those obtained by Earth-based telescopes.\u00a0<\/p>\n

NASA\u2019s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, managed the Ranger program, a series of spacecraft designed to return closeup images before impacting on the Moon\u2019s surface. Ranger 7<\/a> first accomplished that goal in July 1964. On Feb. 17, 1965, its successor Ranger 8 launched toward the Moon, and three days later returned images of the Moon. The mission\u2019s success helped the country meet President John F. Kennedy\u2019s goal<\/a> of a human Moon landing before the end of the decade.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

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Schematic diagram of the Ranger 8 spacecraft, showing its major components. <\/div>\n
NASA\/JPL<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n
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The television system aboard Ranger 8 showing its six cameras.<\/div>\n
NASA\/JPL.<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n
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Launch of Ranger 8. <\/div>\n
NASA.<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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