Lunar Orbiter 3 was the third spacecraft in NASA's Lunar Orbiter program, aimed at mapping the Moon and scouting for suitable landing sites for subsequent missions, particularly the Apollo program. Launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on February 4, 1967, it followed its predecessors, Lunar Orbiter 1 and 2, which had already begun sending valuable data back to Earth. Lunar Orbiter 3 carried a payload equipped with advanced television cameras, allowing it to take high-resolution photographs of the lunar surface from orbit. This mission was critical as it built on the preliminary data acquired by earlier missions and aimed to provide an even more detailed assessment of potential landing zones, including the Sea of Tranquility, where Apollo 11 would eventually touch down in 1969.The spacecraft was designed for a mission life of at least 90 days, during which it would orbit the Moon, photograph the surface, and transmit the data back to mission control. Notably, the images returned by Lunar Orbiter 3 were invaluable for understanding the Moon’s terrain and helped refine the landing strategies for future Apollo missions. This mission not only mapped the Moon’s surface but also helped identify hazards and obstacles that would be critical for manned missions. Overall, Lunar Orbiter 3's successful launch and operation significantly advanced NASA's lunar exploration efforts during a pivotal time in the Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union.