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Lunar Roving Vehicle, Qualification Test Unit, 1970s. Creator: Boeing Aircraft Co
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Lunar Roving Vehicle, Qualification Test Unit, 1970s. Creator: Boeing Aircraft Co
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, and could move forward and backwards. 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
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Media ID 23871355
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1970s Air And Space Museum Apollo Mission Boeing Aerospace Company Boeing Aircraft Co Boeing Aircraft Company Boeing Company Lunar Landing Lunar Landings Lunar Rover Lunar Roving Vehicle Moon Moon Landing Moon Landings Nasa Nasm National Air And Space Museum Seventies Space Space Travel Spacecraft Spacecraft Manned Test Vehicles Vehicle
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This print showcases the Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV), a remarkable "dune buggy" that accompanied astronauts on Apollo missions 15,16, and 17. Created by Boeing Aircraft Co in the 1970s, this battery-powered vehicle was ingeniously stowed on the descent stage of the Lunar Module and deployed upon reaching the lunar surface. The LRV operated using a spacecraft "stick" instead of a conventional steering wheel, allowing it to move both forward and backward across the moon's rugged terrain. In addition to manufacturing flight vehicles for these historic missions, Boeing also produced eight non-flight units for development and testing purposes. Among them was the Qualification Test Unit, an incredibly accurate replica of its space-faring counterparts. Engineers intentionally subjected this unit to extreme conditions far surpassing those expected during an actual mission within specially designed test chambers. Upon completion of these rigorous tests, it became evident that due to the immense stresses endured by the qualification unit, it could no longer be safely utilized in space. Consequently, NASA transferred this invaluable artifact to the National Air and Space Museum in 1975. This photograph captures not only a significant piece of technological innovation but also represents humanity's extraordinary journey beyond Earth's boundaries. It serves as a testament to our relentless pursuit of knowledge about our solar system while highlighting America's pioneering spirit in aerospace exploration.
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