Detailed assessment of the lunar roving vehicle (LRV) used on the Apollo 15 missionProgram: Apollo. Spacecraft: Apollo LRV. Flight: Apollo 15.
A detailed objective assessment of the lunar roving vehicle (LRV) used on the Apollo 15 mission indicated:
The LRV was successfully deployed, with minor problems.
Deployment took 26.5 minutes instead of the allotted time of 17 minutes. - LRV systems were successfully prepared for traverse. Forward steering was inoperative during EVA-1, but functioned normally on EVA-2 and EVA-3. - Average speed during traverse was 9.3 kilometers per hour; maximum speed 13 kilometers per hour. Maximum slopes negotiated were up to 12 degrees. Braking distance was 4.6 meters from 10 kilometers per hour. - The navigation system was extremely accurate. - Forward visibility was generally excellent.