Which Apollo mission first used a lunar roving vehicle on the Moon?
Answer
Apollo 15
Answer
Apollo 15
Apollo 15 was the first Apollo mission to use a lunar roving vehicle on the Moon.
The battery-powered Lunar Roving Vehicle, often called the lunar rover or Moon buggy, was driven by David Scott and James Irwin during Apollo 15's surface excursions in July and August 1971. It allowed the astronauts to travel much farther from the lunar module than earlier crews could walk.
Apollo 15 landed near Hadley–Apennine, a geologically varied region beside Hadley Rille. The rover carried tools, cameras and scientific equipment, helping the crew investigate the mountains and collect samples. Its use expanded the scientific reach of later landing missions.
Apollo 15 was the fourth successful crewed lunar landing. The rover was then used on Apollo 16 and Apollo 17, and all three vehicles were left on the Moon. The Apollo 15 rover traveled roughly 27.8 kilometres on the surface.
Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Sept. 2026