Object Details
Manufacturer
Proizvodsvennoe ob'ednenie "Norma", USSR
Summary
While the Americans were working to send humans to the surface of the Moon, the USSR sent a series of robotic missions to the lunar surface. The last successful series was the Lunokhod. These remote-controlled robots for explored the lunar surface and returned pictures during and after the successful Apollo manned lunar landings and cancellation of Soviet manned moon program in 1969 and 1973.
The Lunokhods were transported to the lunar surface by Luna spacecraft, which were launched by Proton-K rockets.
Lunokhod 1 was a lunar vehicle formed of a tub-like compartment with a large convex lid on eight independently powered wheels. Its length was 2.3 metres. Lunokhod 1 was equipped with a cone-shaped antenna, a highly directional helical antenna, four television cameras, and special extendable devices to impact the lunar soil for density measurements and mechanical property tests.
This is an exmple of a child's remote-controlled toy that popularized the success of the Soviet robtoic missions.
This plastic toy was a gift of Frank H. Winter.
Credit Line
Gift of Frank H. Winter
Inventory Number
A20150310000
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
MEMORABILIA-Popular Culture
Materials
Plastic
Rubber
Steel
Copper Alloy
Dimensions
3-D (Toy Assembled): 30.5 × 15.2 × 20.3cm (1 ft. × 6 in. × 8 in.)
3-D (Wheels): 3.2 × 3.2cm (1 1/4 × 1 1/4 in.)
Overall: 1.1kg (2.5lb.)
Country of Origin
United States of America
See more items in
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Location
National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC
Exhibition
Destination Moon
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Link to Original Record
Record ID
nasm_A20150310000