Globe · Lunar Compendium

Historical record

Ranger 4 spacecraft

Spacecraft failed before impact; first U.S. object to strike the Moon.

Era
A (1959-1976)
Parent mission
Ranger 4
Role
impactor spacecraft
Operator
NASA / JPL
Nation
USA
Launched (UTC)
1962-04-23
Reached Moon (UTC)
1962-04-26
Event type
impactor
Outcome
failure
Site
Lunar farside impact; exact coords not_found_yet
Left on surface
none
Returned material
none
Current status
crashed/on lunar surface
Operational status (derived)
inactive
Source grade
primary
Review note
Impact coordinates need primary confirmation.

Primary source