First Use of the Lunar Roving Vehicle
On July 31, 1971, after landing in the Mare Imbrium, Apollo 15 Commander David Scott and Lunar Module Pilot James Irwin exited the Lunar Module and prepared the Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV) for its inaugural drive.
The LRV was a lightweight, electrically powered vehicle designed specifically for lunar surface operations. It could carry two astronauts and their scientific gear, reaching a top speed of about twelve kilometers per hour.
During the three extravehicular activities, Scott and Irwin covered approximately 27.9 kilometers. They visited geologically interesting sites, collected soil samples, and deployed experiments such as the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package (ALSEP).
The successful demonstration proved that mobile work on the Moon was feasible, paving the way for later Apollo rover missions and influencing modern planetary exploration concepts.