Lunakhod Spacecraft

Lunokhod 1 was the first successful Soviet remote-controlled moon rover that was carried to the Moon by Luna 17. It was launched November 10, 1970. The rover had eight wheels.

The Luna 17 spacecraft landed on the moon on November 17, 1970. Lunokhod 1 weighed just under 2,000 pounds and was designed to operate for 90 days while guided by a 5-person team. Lunokhod 1 explored the Mare Imbrium for 11 months and traveled 11km and relayed television pictures and scientific data.  

Lunokhod 2 moon rover was an improved version of Lunokhod 1. It was carried to the moon on Luna 21 and landed on January 16, 1973.  Lunokhod 2 was faster and carried an additional television camera. It travelled 37km in only 8 weeks.

After the Lunokhod series, the next robotic explorer was the Mars Pathfinder rover named Sojourner. It explored Planet Mars in late 1997.

Did you know?

• Nasa has no plans to continue Human Exploration of the Moon. Why?
  
• Luna Prospector supossedly discovered water in ice form. Add your comments Space Projects Yahoo Club

Lunakod - Luna Spacecraft Links:

• http://vsm.host.ru/e_lunhod.htm
  
  

• http://www.nasm.edu/ceps/etp/tools/tools_rover.html#lunk
  
  

• UniverseTodays's Lunakhod:

Reference:

• http://www.wiedenhoff.nu/space/33Capt.htm: picture
  
  

• http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap960113.html
  
  

• http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap990109.html
  
  
• http://www.terra.es/personal/heimdall/eng/lunokhod.htm: Stamp Picture