Ranger Block III probe
The Ranger program was a pioneering NASA space probe mission launched by NASA that was flown by the Earth's United States of America during the early 1960s.
A record of the launch and flight plans for Ranger 3 through 5 were available in the Enterprise library computer, as well as pictures and plan views of three distinct versions of this design. This data was flashed on a viewscreen when the Talosians scanned the Enterprise computer in 2254. (TOS: "The Cage")
Ranger spacecraft[]
Ranger Block I[]
Block I probe diagram
The Ranger Block I was used in the first series of Ranger launches intended to test the Atlas-Agena rocket in preparation for future missions to reach the Moon.
Components for the Block I included an ion chamber, omnidirectional antenna, Lyman-alpha telescope, Earth sensor, antenna gear box, solar panels, high-gain antenna, electrostatic analyzer, sun sensor, and a magnetometer. (TOS: "The Cage")
Ranger Block II[]
Block II probe photo
The Ranger Block II was used in the second series of launches in the Ranger program designed for achieving Lunar orbit. Ranger 5 was one such probe in this series.
Components for the Block II included a lunar capsule, omnidirectional antenna, RADAR altimeter, solar panels, gamma-ray spectrometer, mid-course motor, retrorocket, TV camera, and a high-gain antenna. (TOS: "The Cage")
Ranger Block III[]
Ranger Block III probe
The Ranger Block III was used in the third series of launches in the Ranger program designed for achieving Lunar orbit. Ranger 7 was one such probe in this series. (TOS: "The Cage")
Appendices[]
Apocrypha[]
Some historical craft named Ranger have been the namesakes for starfaring vessels and Federation starships in numerous non-canon works and games.
A Ranger-class starship was part of the FASA RPG, appearing in such sources as the Federation Ship Recognition Manual. A different, earlier, Ranger-class based on an unused Matt Jefferies starship design was part of the Last Unicorn Games ship list, appearing in the Starfleet Operations Manual, among others. Another Ranger-class starship is the first ship that the player receives when beginning the Star Trek Online "Agents of Yesterday" expansion.
A Miranda-class USS Ranger appears in Star Trek: Shattered Universe and Star Trek: New Worlds promotional material.