Lunar Rover

The Apollo Lunar Roving Vehicle, often called the “Moon Buggy,” was an electric rover developed by NASA for the last three Apollo missions: Apollo 15, 16, and 17. Designed to operate in the Moon’s harsh environment, it allowed astronauts to travel much farther from their landing sites and greatly expanded lunar exploration. Built by Boeing with support from General Motors, the rover featured four electric motors, lightweight wire-mesh wheels, and a foldable aluminum frame that could fit inside the Lunar Module. Despite weighing about 210 kg on Earth, the Moon’s low gravity made it much easier to handle. The Lunar Rover reached speeds of up to 18 km/h and helped astronauts collect scientific samples and conduct experiments across wide areas of the lunar surface. Three rovers were used successfully on the Moon between 1971 and 1972, and all of them remain there today. It is curious that this model is included in a Deluxe collection, since it does not feature any movable or opening parts.