8244

Ranger Block II Lunar Spacecraft Model

Currency:USD Category:Memorabilia / Autographs - Space Start Price:NA Estimated At:4,000.00 - 6,000.00 USD
Ranger Block II Lunar Spacecraft Model

Bidding Over

The auction is over for this lot.
The auctioneer wasn't accepting online bids for this lot.

Contact the auctioneer for information on the auction results.

Search for other lots to bid on...
Auction Date:2017 Oct 19 @ 18:00 (UTC-5 : EST/CDT)
Location:236 Commercial St., Suite 100, Boston, Massachusetts, 02109, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
Rare vintage model of a Ranger block II spacecraft. The extremely durable metal model approximately measures 23 x 11 x 14 (with components unfolded), and features extendable solar panels, high-gain antenna, and radar altimer, and is topped by the lunar capsule and omnidirectional antenna. In very good to fine condition, with some soiling to antenna, and scattered scuffing and wear; gamma ray spectrometer no longer attached. From the personal collection of Charlie Dry, a former Apollo test astronaut and research engineer and senior scientific analyst at NASA. Operated by NASA in the 1960s, the Ranger program was a series of unmanned space missions designed to obtain the first close-up images of the surface of the Moon. The failure of the initial six flights led to the program being coined 'shoot and hope.' The Block II missions consisted of Ranger lunar probes 3–5 launching to the moon at various points in 1962. Although the three missions proved unsuccessful, their attempts led to the discovery that a type of diode used in previous missions produced problematic gold-plate flaking in the conditions of space. The launch of Ranger 7 on July 28, 1964, successfully transmitted close images of the lunar surface back to Earth.