Lunar Rover Tyre Tread

Lunar Rover Tyre Head

Lunar Rover Tyre Head
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Musuem

A sample of wire mesh of the Lunar Roving Vehicle wheel, designed for the Apollo 15 mission, made by General Motors at the Delco Electronics Santa Barbara laboratory, 1970-1971.

The Apollo 15 mission of July 1971 used a Lunar Roving Vehicle. The wheels of the Lunar Roving Vehicle were made of a wire mesh frame, each tyre weighing 5.5 kgs, instead of the standard rubber tyres filled with air used on Earth, to allow for a smoother ride on the moon’s surface.

Details

Category:
Space Technology
Object Number:
Y1991.50.32
Materials:
metal (unknown)
Measurements:
overall: 1 mm x 230 mm x 230 mm, 55 g
type:
spacecraft component
credit:
Gift of Dr. K. Gilroy.