# Lunar Roving (DD-609) > The Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV) was the electric car of the last three Apollo missions. According to NASA, it made its debut on July 31, 1971, when Apollo 15's David Scott and James Irwin drove it. Rovers were also driven on Apollo 16 (John Young and Charles Duke) and Apollo 17 (Gene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt), each used for three traverses, one per day. NASA's Space Science Data Coordinated Archive gives its mass as 210 kg and its design payload as 490 kg (Wikipedia gives 440 kg), so it could indeed carry more than twice its own mass. The frame folded so it could ride to the Moon in a bay of the Lunar Module. Each of its four wire-mesh wheels had its own 0.25-horsepower electric motor, powered by two 36-volt silver-zinc batteries that were not rechargeable. Boeing built the rovers, with Delco as a major subcontractor. The original $19 million contract ended up costing $38 million for four rovers, one of which was used for spare parts. Apollo 15's rover was driven 27.8 km, and Apollo 17's went 35.9 km, with a farthest distance of 7.6 km from the lander. The three rovers are still on the Moon. The footage is a view from the rover's TV camera, wrapped in gold-colored thermal insulation, looking across the lunar surface. - Department: Space (also History) - First published: 2025-07-06 - Last updated: 2025-07-06 - Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/lunar-roving/ - Author: Marcus Easterling (DetailEnjoyer), The Detail Department ## On the timeline - **July 31, 1971**: Apollo 15's David Scott and James Irwin make the first drive on the Moon in the LRV - **1972**: Rovers are driven on the Moon on Apollo 16 and Apollo 17 Full timeline: https://detailenjoyer.com/timeline/?case=lunar-roving ## Quick facts - **DD-609-F01**: The Lunar Roving Vehicle was first driven on the Moon on July 31, 1971. _(Write-up · Exhibit A (Debut))_ - **DD-609-F02**: The Lunar Roving Vehicle had a mass of 210 kg and could carry 490 kg. _(Write-up · Exhibit C (Light but strong))_ ## Write-up Apollo's electric moon buggy. First driven on the Moon on July 31, 1971. 1. **Debut**: The LRV first drove on the Moon on July 31, 1971, with Apollo 15's Scott and Irwin. 2. **Three missions**: Rovers were driven on Apollo 15, 16 and 17, three traverses each. 3. **Light but strong**: It had a mass of 210 kg and a design payload of 490 kg, per NASA. 4. **Power**: Each wheel had its own motor, run by two 36-volt silver-zinc batteries that were not rechargeable. 5. **Still parked**: Boeing built four rovers for $38 million. The three that flew remain on the Moon. ## Related case files - [Spacewalker (DD-652)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/spacewalker/): Another case about astronauts working outside their spacecraft - [Northrop Grumman (DD-604)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/northrop-grumman/): Grumman built the Apollo Lunar Module that carried the rover - [Not the Space Force (DD-259)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/not-the-space-force/): I linked driving on the Moon - [Lunar Topography (DD-385)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/lunar-topography/): I linked more on the Moon - [On A Glide (DD-615)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/on-a-glide/): Another NASA vehicle case ## Reel vs. record - **Note**: 'Could carry over twice its own weight': NASA's figure is a 490 kg design payload for a 210 kg vehicle, more than double. Wikipedia gives 440 kg, which is also more than double. - **Note**: 'Electric battery-powered': yes, by two 36-volt silver-zinc batteries that were not rechargeable. Each wheel had its own electric motor. - **Note**: 'In 1971 Apollo 15 mission': the first drive was on July 31, 1971, and rovers were also driven on Apollo 16 and 17 in 1972. - **Note**: 'Designed to extend their exploration range': on Apollo 17 the crew drove 35.9 km in total and went as far as 7.6 km from the lander. - **Missing**: Boeing built the rovers, with Delco as a major subcontractor. The contract grew from $19 million to $38 million, and the three rovers that flew are still on the Moon. ## Video: Lunar Roving: Apollo's Electric Moon Buggy - Duration: 22.7 s · Published: 2025-07-06 - File: https://detailenjoyer.com/assets/videos/DLw5wE-MyCV.mp4 ### Transcript DID YOU KNOW? In 1971 Apollo 15 mission, astronauts David Scott and James Irwin became the first humans to drive a lunar rover on the moon. The Lunar Roving Vehicle or LRV, was an electric battery-powered, four-wheeled buggy, designed to extend their exploration range. Weighing about 210 kg on Earth, it could carry over twice its own weight in astronauts, tools, and samples. NOW YOU KNOW! ## Questions & answers **Q: On which mission was the Lunar Roving Vehicle first driven?** A: On July 31, 1971. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Debut) · NASA NSSDCA: The Apollo Lunar Roving Vehicle; NASA: Apollo 15 and the Lunar Roving Vehicle)_ **Q: What was the LRV's mass, according to NASA?** A: With a 490 kg design payload. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Three missions) · NASA NSSDCA: The Apollo Lunar Roving Vehicle; Wikipedia: Lunar Roving Vehicle)_ **Q: What powered the LRV?** A: Two 36-volt batteries. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Three missions) · NASA NSSDCA: The Apollo Lunar Roving Vehicle; Wikipedia: Lunar Roving Vehicle)_ **Q: Which company built the lunar rovers?** A: With Delco as a major subcontractor. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Debut) · NASA NSSDCA: The Apollo Lunar Roving Vehicle; NASA: Apollo 15 and the Lunar Roving Vehicle)_ **Q: On how many Apollo missions was a rover driven?** A: Apollo 15, 16 and 17. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Debut) · NASA NSSDCA: The Apollo Lunar Roving Vehicle; NASA: Apollo 15 and the Lunar Roving Vehicle)_ ## Sources - [NASA NSSDCA: The Apollo Lunar Roving Vehicle](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/lunar/apollo_lrv.html) - [NASA: Apollo 15 and the Lunar Roving Vehicle](https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/apollo-15-lunar-roving-vehicle/) - [Wikipedia: Lunar Roving Vehicle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_Roving_Vehicle) ## Cite this case file Easterling, Marcus. "Lunar Roving." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-609, last updated Jul 6, 2025. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/lunar-roving/