Page 83 - Apollo Moonships

The moon buggy 81
LUNAR ROVER PERFORMANCE
Although it looked like a simple vehicle, the lunar rover was a very specialized spacecraft designed to function safely in the lunar environment, characterized by low gravity, vacuum, wide temperature variances, and difficult terrain. The vehicle was very reliable, thanks to the simplicity of its design and the redundancy of
the critical equipment. The LRV, for example, had two complete battery systems, each capable of powering the vehicle. It was also equipped with separate steering mechanisms on the front and rear wheels. If one of these sets failed, the astronauts could disconnect it and use the other one for steering. Each wheel was powered by an electric motor of 0.25 horsepower but could also operate as a “free wheel”. In the low-gravity lunar environment, this electrical power was enough to negotiate one-foot-high obstacles with both front wheels in contact with the ground. The vehicle was also capable of crossing 28-inch crevasses and climbing or descending slopes or steeps of 25°. In contrast to normal cars, which can only load half of their own weight, the LRV could carry twice its weight (the LRV’s mass was 462 pounds and could hold an additional payload of 1,080 pounds). One of the most important features of the lunar rover was its capability to double the time astronauts spent on the moon. By riding instead of walking, the lunar explorers expended less energy and consumed, at a slower pace, their limited provision of oxygen and water. Because the lunar rover batteries were not rechargeable, the operational lifetime of the vehicle on the moon was only 78 hours during the lunar day.
APOLLO 15
LUNAR ROVER PERFORMANCE ON THE MOON
Moon landing date:
Surface Extravehicular activities (EVA’s) EVA’s duration (hours and minutes):
Driving time (hours and minutes):
Surface distance traversed (miles)
Duration (hours and minutes):
Average speed (mph):
Maximum range from Lunar Module (miles): Longest traverse (miles):
Rock samples returned (pounds):
APOLLO 16
July 30, 1971 3
18.33
3.02
17.27 18.30 5.72 3.11 7.77 170.44
LUNAR ROVER PERFORMANCE ON THE MOON
Moon landing date:
Surface Extravehicular activities (EVA’s) EVA’s duration (hours and minutes):
Driving time (hours and minutes):
Surface distance traversed (miles)
Duration (hours and minutes):
Average speed (mph):
Maximum range from Lunar Module (miles): Longest traverse (miles):
Rock samples returned (pounds):
APOLLO 17
April 21, 1972 3
20.14
3.26
16.59 21.00 4.83 2.80 7.21 211.00
LUNAR ROVER PERFORMANCE ON THE MOON
Moon landing date:
Surface Extravehicular activities (EVA’s) EVA’s duration (hours and minutes):
Driving time (hours and minutes):
Surface distance traversed (miles)
Duration (hours and minutes):
Average speed (mph):
Maximum range from Lunar Module (miles): Longest traverse (miles):
Rock samples returned (pounds):
December 11, 1972 3
22.04
4.26
22.31 21.30 4.97 4.72 12.79 243.65