Lunar Rover mock-up

Boeing developed the Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV) in 1969 for NASA's Apollo "J" missions, enabling extended lunar exploration during Apollo 15, 16, and 17 in 1971-72. The battery-powered vehicle featured new technologies, including computerized navigation, color television transmission capabilities, and specialized wire-mesh wheels designed for the lunar surface. Protected against extreme temperature variations from -200°F to over 200°F, the LRV expanded the exploration range at each landing site. The Apollo 17 rover traveled the furthest distance of 22.2 miles across three traverses in December 1972, allowing astronauts to explore the Hadley Rille, Descartes, and Taurus-Littrow regions of the Moon.