Watch the Lunar Roving Vehicle transport two astronauts on the Moon during the Apollo 15, 16, and 17 missions
Watch the Lunar Roving Vehicle transport two astronauts on the Moon during the Apollo 15, 16, and 17 missions
The Lunar Roving Vehicle, used on the Apollo 15, 16, and 17 missions. Built by Boeing largely of aluminum alloy, the vehicle was designed to carry two astronauts and their tools, instruments, and lunar samples up to a total payload of 490 kg (1,080 pounds), which was more than twice its own weight; nevertheless, it could be folded into a space 1.5 metres (5 feet) wide and 0.5 metre (20 inches) thick for stowage in the Lunar Module. Each steel-mesh wheel was driven by a small electric motor, which gave the rover a maximum speed of 12 km (8 miles) per hour on clear ground. Its large dish antenna transmitted a TV signal from a front-mounted colour camera directly to Earth.
NASA
-
NASAThe Lunar Roving Vehicle, used on the Apollo 15, 16, and 17 missions. Built by Boeing largely of aluminum alloy, the vehicle was designed to carry two astronauts and their tools, instruments, and lunar samples up to a total payload of 490 kg (1,080 pounds), which was more than twice its own weight; nevertheless, it could be folded into a space 1.5 metres (5 feet) wide and 0.5 metre (20 inches) thick for stowage in the Lunar Module. Each steel-mesh wheel was driven by a small electric motor, which gave the rover a maximum speed of 12 km (8 miles) per hour on clear ground. Its large dish antenna transmitted a TV signal from a front-mounted colour camera directly to Earth.
-
NASAThis video shows an Apollo mission taking off from the Moon. The Lunar Module consisted of two parts. The lower half, or descent stage, contained the landing engine and gear and was left behind to save weight and fuel. The upper half, or ascent stage, carried the astronauts to a rendezvous with the orbiting Command and Service modules, which took them back to Earth. The liftoff was recorded with a camera on the mission's Lunar Roving Vehicle.
-
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Erik Gregersen, astronomy and space exploration editor, discusses space junk—material left floating in space after past space missions—and how the problem is getting worse every day.
-
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Description of weightlessness and how astronauts prepare for it.
-
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Erik Gregersen, astronomy and space exploration editor of Encyclopædia Britannica, discussing the successes and failures of the U.S. space shuttle program.
-
© Open University (A Britannica Publishing Partner)An overview of Apollo 11's landing on the Moon, including the continuing scientific study of the rock specimens collected during the mission.
-
© Open University (A Britannica Publishing Partner)Learn about some of the synthetic materials—nylon, Dacron, Mylar, Kevlar—from which space suits are made.
-
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Overview of the Apollo 11 spaceflight in which U.S. astronauts became the first people to walk on the Moon.
-
NASAThis video shows the space walk of Edward H. White II, a member of the Gemini 4 mission, launched on June 3, 1965. White was the first American to leave his capsule and perform an extravehicular activity (EVA) in space. He floated outside Gemini 4 for about 20 minutes, moving with the help of a maneuvering gun, which appears in his right hand. White was later one of three Apollo astronauts killed on January 27, 1967, during a training accident.
