Knowra Lunar rover Lunar rover A vehicle designed to travel across the Moon’s surface, either carrying astronauts or operating robotically. Lunar rovers extend exploration beyond the landing site.
Lunar Roving Vehicle : The battery-powered crewed rover used by Apollo astronauts on the Moon. Apollo 15, 16, and 17 used it to travel farther from their landing sites.
Lunar regolith : The loose, fragmented material covering the Moon’s solid surface. Its fine, abrasive grains and weak bearing strength complicate wheel traction and vehicle design.
Lunar rover (crewed) : A lunar surface vehicle designed to carry astronauts. Human occupants require life-support compatibility, controls, restraints, and emergency procedures.
Apollo 15 : The 1971 Apollo mission that first carried astronauts in the Lunar Roving Vehicle. Its rover enabled geological traverses across the Hadley–Apennine region.
Lunokhod 1 : The first remote-controlled rover to operate successfully on the Moon. Its 1970 mission demonstrated long-distance robotic surface exploration.
Wheel : A circular component that rotates to support and move a vehicle. Lunar rover wheels must cross loose soil and rocks without ordinary pneumatic tires.
Lunar rover (robotic) : An uncrewed lunar surface vehicle controlled autonomously or from Earth. Robotic designs trade passenger capacity for instruments, autonomy, and long-duration operation.
Apollo 17 : The final crewed Apollo lunar landing, conducted in December 1972. Its rover supported the longest and most extensive Apollo lunar traverses.
Lunokhod 2 : A Soviet robotic lunar rover that operated on the Moon in 1973. It set a lunar surface-distance record that stood for decades.
Electric vehicle : A vehicle propelled by one or more electric motors. Battery-powered electric drive suits rovers that must operate without combustion air.
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