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/rayn"jeuhr/, n.1. See forest ranger.2. one of a body of armed guards who patrol a region.3. (cap.) a U.S. soldier in World War II specially trained for making surprise raids and attacks in small groups. Cf. commando (def. 1).4. a soldier specially trained in the techniques of guerrilla warfare, esp. in jungle terrain.5. a person who ranges or roves.6. (esp. in Texas) a member of the state police.7. Brit. a keeper of a royal forest or park.8. Building Trades. wale1 (def. 5).9. (cap.) one of a series of instrumented U.S. space probes launched in the 1960s that transmitted closeup pictures of the moon before impacting the lunar surface.[1350-1400; ME; see RANGE, -ER1]
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Any of a series of unmanned probes launched from 1961 to 1965 by NASA.The project was NASA's earliest attempt to explore the Moon's surface. Ranger 4 (1962) became the first U.S. spacecraft to hit the Moon, crash-landing on its surface as planned. The last three probes in the series (1964–65) sent more than 17,000 high-resolution photographs of the Moon before crashing. See also Luna; Pioneer; Surveyor.* * *
any of a series of nine unmanned probes launched from 1961 to 1965 by the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Project Ranger represented NASA's earliest attempt at lunar exploration. Ranger 4 (1962) became the first U.S. spacecraft to hit the moon, crash-landing on its surface as designed. The last three probes in the series, Ranger 7, 8, and 9 (1964–65), transmitted more than 17,000 high-resolution photographs of the Moon, including many from as close as 300 m (1,000 feet) above the lunar surface, before crashing.* * *
Universalium. 2010.