Country of Origin: United States of America
Dimensions:
Overall: 7ft 12in. x 4ft 12in. x 3ft 12in., 980lb. (243.8 x 152.4 x 121.9cm, 444.5kg)
Other: 232.2kg (548lb.) Weight reflects rover as displayed
Other: 7ft 12in. x 4ft 12in. x 3ft 12in. (243.8 x 152.4 x 121.9cm)
Materials:
Aluminum chassis, zinc-coated piano wire wheels, fiberglass fenders, canvas, nylon, brass
The Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV) was a four-wheeled, battery powered "dune buggy" taken to the moon on Apollo missions 15, 16, and 17. The LRV was stowed on the descent stage of the Lunar Module and deployed upon arrival at the lunar surface. Actually a "wheeled spacecraft", it was operated with a spacecraft "stick" rather than a steering wheel, and could move forward and backwards. The design included a communications antenna and a television camera. Each wheel had a 1/4-horsepower electric motor. The LRV could reach speeds of up to 12 miles per hour and carry 1000 pounds (2 astronauts and their equipment.)
This particular unit was a non-operable, full-scale mock-up built for display purposes from mostly surplus parts. It was transferred to the Smithsonian in 1975.
Transferred from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
