Ranger 1 rocket launch. Atlas-Agena rocket launching the Ranger 1 spacecraft. The Ranger program was a series of unmanned US space missions launched between 1961 and 1965. Ranger 1 was designed to test functions and parts necessary for subsequent missions. It was launched on 23rd August 1961 and successfully reached orbit. However, its Agena B engine failed to restart to put it into the higher trajectory orbit and it began tumbling. It re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 30th August 1961 having succeeded in its primary mission, however it failed to return much scientific data. Photographed at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, USA, on 23rd August 1961.