Dune Buggies on the Moon, Part 3

Driving the Moon Buggy

Apollo 17 Lunar Roving Vehicle
Image: NASA (Public domain)

The Lunar Rover moved about under power from four drive motors and two steering motors.  The mission commander controlled the motors and brakes while sitting in the left hand driver's seat.  Moving the T-shaped controller forward would cause the buggy to accelerate, while pulling back would trigger the brakes.  The commander moved the controller left or right to steer and he could push a switch on the controller to back it up.  When parked, the brake could be set by pulling the controller all the way back.  Operational updates on motor temperatures, velocity, heading, and energy reserve were provided by gauges mounted nearby.  Fail-safe navigational aids with more advanced instruments as well as Sun tracking devices provided additional security.  The buggy was never driven so far from the landing module that the astronauts could not walk back without exhausting their life support systems.

Read more here: 
Dune Buggies on the Moon, Part 1 

Dune Buggies on the Moon, Part 2

Ice Moon Station will publish more on the Apollo missions in future posts.  
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