Evening star., 1961-08-23
SpacePIatforn1
In n0rbit, Fails
TOFireR Ranger
Two Devices Don't
Separate, Initial
Dutu Indicates

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla,
Aug. % (AP).-The United
States fired a satellite launch
ing platform into orbit today
but it failed to send a piggy
back payload on a projected
million-mile round trip into
space.
1t was indicated-but not
Immediately certain-that the
two units never separated at
all.
Nevertheless, scientists ex-
pected signals from the space
craft to yield some valuable
data. The purpose of the flight
was to test techniqueS for
launching future vehicles to
the moon, Mars and Venus.
A powerful AtlaS-Agena
rocket blasted off at 6:04 EDIT.
The Agena second stage spun
into a parking orbit" from
which the 675-pound payload,
Ranger I, was to have been
flung far into space.
The Agena, with power shut
off, was designed to follow its
orbit for IA minutes until it
reached a proper point before
reigniting to build up speed
to 23,S00 miles an hour and
kick Ranger loose. Ranger
was intended to go into a
lightly eliptical orbit with a
high point of 100000 miles.
The Agena was to continue on
a path about 100 miles up.
In Orbit Near Earth
But the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration an
nounced 312 hours after the
launching that the "Agena
rocket stage and the space
craft are III q near earth orbit
rather than the highly eccen-
trio orbit planned for the
flight"
The Agena and Ranger were
following an orbital path rang
ing from 100 to 300 miles above
the earth. Each pass around
the globe takes 81 minutes.
An official said there is every
indication the two did not
separate. But he said there is
an outside possibility they are
in separate orbits, close to-
gether. Radio data is being
studied to determine what went
wrong.
Primary mission Of the
flight was to test operation Of
the Ranger spacecraft," an an
nouncement said. Since data
are being received it is Likely
that this objective will be
achieved in part"
An official expressed hope Of
learning at least how the in
strument packages functioned.
"The instruments are de-
signed to gather data from far
out in space" he said. How
ever, even in the near earth
orbit we should gain some
thing"
Loses Radio Contact
James. D. Burke, Ranger
Project manager for NASA'S
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, re-
ported a loss of radio contact
with the hicle after the
Agena fired the second time
high over the South Atlantic
Ocean.
There was some thought at
the time that the entire pay
load might have plunged into
the Atlantic Ocean. However,
a tracking station at Gold
stone, Calf, picked up signals
more than two hours after the
launching as Ranger crossed
the West Coast of the United
States on its first orbit.
If the cigar-shaped orbit had
been achieved, Goldstone would
not have received radio reports
from Ranger until hours later.
Another rocket and a second
payload, Ranger II. are avail
able for a new effort tenta-
lively set for this fall.
The early portion of flight
appeared normal as the huge
missile lifted into the early
morning sky and sped swiftly
from sight.
AS the blazing rocket darted
into the cold air of the upper
atmosphere a bright cloud of
vapor blossomed brilliantly
around the vehicle. The rays
of the rising sun Illuminated
this trail for several minutes
after the projectile streaked
from sight creating a spectac-
ular and eerie pattern in the
sky.