Lunar Roving Vehicle, Qualification Test Unit

National Air and Space Museum

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Object Details

Manufacturer
Boeing
Summary
The Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV) was a 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. The LRV was operated with a spacecraft "stick," rather than a steering wheel.
In addition to the flight vehicles, Boeing manufactured eight non-flight units for development and testing. One, the "Qualification Test Unit," was a very close replica of the units that flew. Using special test chambers, engineers purposely subjected the qualification unit to conditions many times as severe as those expected on an actual mission. When the tests were finished, given the stresses it had been subject to, the qualification unit could not safely be used in space. In 1975, NASA transferred it to the Museum.
Alternate Name
Lunar Roving Vehicle
Key Accomplishment(s)
First Human-Driven Vehicle on Another Planet
Brief Description
The Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV) was a battery-powered "dune buggy" taken to the moon on Apollo missions 15, 16, and 17. Stowed on the descent stage of the Lunar Module, the LRV extended the range of astronaut EVA activities by several kilometers beyond the landing site.
Credit Line
Transferred from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Inventory Number
A19760746000
Restrictions & Rights
CC0
Type
SPACECRAFT-Crewed-Test Vehicles
Materials
Aluminum chassis, zinc-coated piano wire wheels, fiberglass fenders, canvas, nylon, brass
Dimensions
Overall: 4 × 5 × 8 ft., 537lb. (121.9 × 152.4 × 243.8cm, 243.6kg)
Country of Origin
United States of America
See more items in
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Location
National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC
Exhibition
Destination Moon
Title
Lunar Roving Vehicle, Qualification Test Unit
National Air and Space Museum
Record ID
nasm_A19760746000
Metadata Usage (text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv963b08f5e-ade7-4a1e-9cbc-f88ca2c395f5
Four-wheel battery powered vehicle with attached antenna.
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Four-wheel battery powered vehicle with attached antenna.
Side view of a four-wheel battery powered vehicle with attached antenna.
Rear view of a four-wheel battery powered vehicle with attached antenna.
Rear view of a four-wheel battery powered vehicle with attached antenna.
Front view of antenna attached to a four-wheel battery powered vehicle.
Antenna attached to a pole.
Antenna attached to a pole.
Instrument panel with multiple switches and controls.
Metal mesh tire, with U.S.A. flag patch on maroon fabric tacked on top of wheel well.
Stick controller and instrument panel with multiple switches and controls.
Two metals seats with padding attached to a metal frame of a vehicle.
Rear metal frame of a vehicle.