[Illustration: 87. The _Apollo 15_ Lunar Roving Vehicle was the
first motor vehicle on the Moon.]
The Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV) is a spacecraft designed to carry two
astronauts, their life-support systems, scientific equipment, and lunar
samples on the airless, low-gravity surface of the Moon.
Lunar Roving Vehicles were used on Apollo missions _15_, _16_, and _17_
and were driven a total of 90 kilometers (56 miles) on the Moon.
The crew of _Apollo 15_, the first to use an LRV, drove their vehicle
27.9 kilometers (17.3 miles) at speeds up to 19-21 kilometers (12-13
miles) per hour. In comparison the _Apollo 14_ astronauts traveled only
4.2 kilometers (2.6 miles) on foot.
LRVs enabled the astronauts to carry heavy, bulky equipment and to place
scientific instruments at considerable distances from the lunar module.
An LRV could carry two astronauts as far as 91.5 kilometers (57 miles)
across the lunar surface or operate for up to 78 hours.
Each LRV was transported to the Moon in a compartment of the descent
stage of a lunar module.
Four LRVs were built by the Boeing Company. Three were used on the Moon;
the LRV on display was used in tests.
The LRV on exhibit is from the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration.
Weight
On Earth 210 kg. (462 lb.)
On Moon 34 kg. (76 lb.)
Payload
On Earth 490 kg. (1080 lb.)
On Moon 80 kg. (178 lb.)
Length 3.1 m. (10 ft., 2 in.)
Width 1.8 m. (6 ft.)
Wheel base 2.3 m. (7 ft., 6 in.)
Turning radius 3 m. (10 ft.)
Drive One ¼ h.p. motor in each wheel; total 1 h.p.
Power source Two 36-v. silver-zinc batteries