00:00 On this day in space.
00:03 In 1961, NASA launched the Ranger 1 robotic spacecraft on a precursor mission to test new technologies for later moon missions.
00:10 NASA's Ranger program had the ultimate goal of photographing and mapping the lunar surface.
00:15 Ranger 1 was launched with the primary mission of testing the performance of the spacecraft functions and parts.
00:20 It also studied particles and fields around the Earth and space.
00:23 While it was designed to enter a pretty high orbit of 37,000 by 684,000 miles, it never made it that far.
00:29 A malfunction with the rocket caused the engine to shut down prematurely, which sent it tumbling around in low Earth orbit.
00:35 One week later, on August 30th, it reentered Earth's atmosphere and was incinerated.
00:39 And that's what happened on this day in space.
00:42 [ music ]
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