Pioneer Moon Missions
The early Pioneer missions marked America's first efforts to break the grip of Earth's gravity and make it to the Moon. While only Pioneer 4 achieved that goal, all eight Pioneer moon shots yielded valuable information that shaped the later successes of the American space program. The program - a cornerstone of the U.S.
Pioneer 0 First US Lunar Mission - Able 1
In an ambitious attempt at deep space exploration, the United States launched their first attempt (first by an country) in August of 1958. Originally called Able 1, the flight was renamed Pioneer 0 after its launch. The plan was to insert a 38 kg (84 pound) satellite into a lunar orbit and send back data for about 2 weeks. The spacecraft's first stage rocket exploded 77 seconds after launch. The wreckage plummeted into the Atlantic Ocean.
In an ambitious attempt at deep space exploration, the United States launched their first attempt (first by an country) in August of 1958. Originally called Able 1, the flight was renamed Pioneer 0 after its launch. The plan was to insert a 38 kg (84 pound) satellite into a lunar orbit and send back data for about 2 weeks. The spacecraft's first stage rocket exploded 77 seconds after launch. The wreckage plummeted into the Atlantic Ocean.
Pioneer 1 - Able 2
It was the dawn of a new era. Although Able 2 was actually launched by the US Air Force, it was the first mission undertaken by the fledgling National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Able 2 was very similar to Able 1. It was also an attempt at orbiting a satellite around the moon. Unfortunately, it also suffered from difficulties as Able 1 had. After launch, the second stage engines shut down ten seconds early because of a faulty accelerometer.
It was the dawn of a new era. Although Able 2 was actually launched by the US Air Force, it was the first mission undertaken by the fledgling National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Able 2 was very similar to Able 1. It was also an attempt at orbiting a satellite around the moon. Unfortunately, it also suffered from difficulties as Able 1 had. After launch, the second stage engines shut down ten seconds early because of a faulty accelerometer.