The Soviet Lunokhods, or 'moonwalkers', were designed to explore the lunar surface under remote control from mission controllers on Earth. Lunokhod 1 was the first wheeled vehicle to traverse the Moon. It rolled down from a ramp on its carrier, Luna 17, on to the Sea of Showers on November 17, 1970. Lunokhod 2, carried to the Moon on Luna 21, began rolling on the Sea of Serenity on January 15, 1973. The five-man team responsible for guiding the Lunokhods was located at the Yevpatoria tracking station in the Crimea. Lunokhod 1 was designed to work for three lunar days (each about 14 Earth-days long), but in fact remained operational for 11 lunar days, or 322 Earth days. During this time it travelled more than 10.5 km and returned over 20,000 TV images. Lunokhod 2 explored the Moon for five lunar days, or ten and a half months, returning some 8,000 TV images. On one lunar day in March 1973, it travelled a record 16.5 km. Lunokhod 2 was an improved version of Lunokhod 1, but was of basically the same design. The Lunokhod vehicle consisted of a pressurized, tub-like instrument container mounted on a chassis fitted with eight wire wheels. It measured about 7 metres long and 1.6 metres across. A 'lid' on top opened during the lunar day to allow heat to radiate away. The inside of the lid carried solar cells to generate electricity to charge the batteries. It was guided remotely from Earth, its controllers looking through twin TV camera 'eyes mounted in front (Lunokhod 2 had three 'eyes'). Further TV cameras on the sides allowed panoramic views of the lunar landscape. Lunokhod was steered by driving the wheels on each side of the craft at different speeds. It carried instruments to analyse the lunar soil and a French-built laser reflector.
