<ul><li>The Ranger 8 space mission, which launched on February 17, 1965, returned close-up images of the Moon's surface.</li><li>The mission was successful and its images helped scientists determine suitable landing sites for the Apollo program.</li><li>Ranger 8 sent back 7,137 images of the lunar surface, with its last image having a resolution of about five feet.</li><li>The impact site of Ranger 8 was later imaged by Lunar Orbiter 2 in 1966 and in greater detail by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter in 2012.</li></ul>

60 Years Ago: Ranger 8 Moon Photos Aid in Apollo Site Selection

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