Editing Apollo 15 (section)

=== Lunar Roving Vehicle ===
[[File:Apollo 15 Lunar Rover and Irwin.jpg|thumb|upright=1.49|right|alt=Astronaut works on the Moon at the lunar rover|Irwin with the [[Lunar Roving Vehicle]] on the Moon. [[Mons Hadley]] is in the background.]]
{{main|Lunar Roving Vehicle}}

A vehicle that could operate on the surface of the Moon had been considered by NASA since the early 1960s. An early version was called MOLAB, which had a closed cabin and would have massed about {{convert|6000|lb}}; some scaled-down prototypes were tested in Arizona. As it became clear NASA would not soon establish a lunar base, such a large vehicle seemed unnecessary. Still, a rover would enhance the J missions, which were to concentrate on science, though its mass was limited to about {{convert|500|lb}} and it was not then clear that so light a vehicle could be useful. NASA did not decide to proceed with a rover until May 1969, as [[Apollo 10]], the dress rehearsal for the Moon landing, made its way home from lunar orbit. [[Boeing]] received the contract for three rovers on a [[cost-plus contract|cost-plus basis]]; overruns (especially in the navigation system) meant the three vehicles eventually cost a total of $40&nbsp;million. These cost overruns gained considerable media attention at a time of greater public weariness with the space program, when NASA's budget was being cut.<ref name=summaryalsj group=ALSJ/>

The Lunar Roving Vehicle could be folded into a space 5&nbsp;ft by 20 in (1.5 m by 0.5 m). Unloaded, it weighed 460&nbsp;lb (209&nbsp;kg) and when carrying two astronauts and their equipment, 1500&nbsp;lb (700&nbsp;kg). Each wheel was independently driven by a {{frac|1|4}} [[horsepower]] (200 W) electric motor. Although it could be driven by either astronaut, the commander always drove. Travelling at speeds up to 6{{nbsp}}to 8{{nbsp}}mph (10{{nbsp}}to 12{{nbsp}}km/h),<ref name=summaryalsj group=ALSJ/> astronauts for the first time could travel far afield from their lander and still have enough time to do some scientific experiments.<ref name=presskit>{{cite web |url=https://history.nasa.gov/alsj/a15/A15_PressKit.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327000948/https://mira.hq.nasa.gov/history/ws/hdmshrc/all/main/DDD/17978.PDF |url-status=live |archive-date=March 27, 2009 | title=Apollo 15 Press Kit |date=July 15, 1971 |publisher=NASA |location=Washington, D.C. |id=Release No: 71-119K |access-date=January 6, 2019}}</ref> The Apollo 15 rover bore a plaque, reading: "Man's First Wheels on the Moon, Delivered by Falcon, July 30, 1971".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a15/AS15-88-11862HR.jpg |title=Apollo 15 Map and Image Library |last=Jones |first=Eric M. |date=November 23, 2016 |website=Apollo Lunar Surface Journal}}</ref> During pre-launch testing, the LRV was given additional bracing, lest it collapse if someone sat on it under Earth conditions.{{sfn|Compton|p=230}}