Driving on the Moon

First Drive on Another World

• Apollo 15 (1971) was the first mission to deploy the Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV)
• The rover extended astronaut range from about 1 km on foot to over 27 km traveled
• Top speed reached roughly 8 mph (13 km/h) on the lunar surface
• The LRV was folded and stowed in the Lunar Module, then deployed after landing

Four Wheels, One Mission: Explore

• The LRV weighed about 460 lbs on Earth, but only about 77 lbs in lunar gravity
• Powered by two non-rechargeable 36-volt silver-zinc batteries
• Each wheel had its own electric motor for redundancy and traction
• Navigation used a gyro and odometer system — no GPS

Science on Wheels

• The rover carried cameras, tools, and the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package (ALSEP)
• It allowed astronauts to collect roughly 77 kg (170 lbs) of lunar samples on Apollo 15
• It enabled exploration of Hadley Rille, one of the most geologically significant sites ever visited
• The high-gain antenna transmitted live TV back to Earth

Extending the Landing Zone

• Apollo 15 astronauts traveled 17.5 miles (28 km) using the rover, over 10x farther than previous missions
• The rover enabled exploration up to 5 miles (8 km) from the Lunar Module
• Mission duration included 18+ hours of EVA, significantly expanded by rover mobility
• The extended range allowed access to previously unreachable terrain, including elevated regions of the Hadley-Apennine site

Final Missions, Maximum Range

• Apollo 17 (1972) recorded the longest rover distance: about 35.7 km (22.2 miles)
• Mission duration included roughly 22 hours of EVA time using the rover
• Improved driving techniques allowed higher speeds and better efficiency
• The last time humans operated a vehicle on another world, to date

Across the Moon's surface, these machines carried humanity beyond its first steps. Continue the legacy.

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