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(calm, upbeat music)

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(radio chatter)

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- Much before Neil Armstrong
first set foot on the moon

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on July 20th, 1969, NASA,
looking toward future

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and more extensive exploration
of the moon's surface,

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requested that WES conduct investigations

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to determine mobility
characteristics of wheels

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designed for a lunar rover.

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As temperatures on the moon range

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from 250 degrees Fahrenheit
to -350 degrees Fahrenheit,

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conventional pneumatic
wheel and tire configuration

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was unsuitable.

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Thus, NASA provided three wheels

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to Waterways for testing purposes.

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A model of the lunar rover was fabricated

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here at Waterways for testing
in simulated moon soil,

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as the quantity of lunar soil recovered

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from the surface of the moon

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during missions Apollo 11 and
12 was limited in quantity,

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WES scientists developed
simulated moon soil,

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utilizing fine dune sands from the deserts

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near Yuma, Arizona, and
basalt from the Napa Valley

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in California, when
mixed, contain the same

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cohesive properties as that of lunar soil.

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With this simulated lunar
soil, testing was conducted

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here at Waterways for several months.

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Of the three wheels provided
by NASA to Waterways,

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the one developed by Boeing GM

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was considered the most promising.

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It consisted of woven,
zinc-coated piano wire,

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with titanium chevrons
for enhanced traction.

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This particular wheel, when
placed on the lunar rover,

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was utilized on the Apollo 15 mission.

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It was the fourth manned
mission to the moon

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in July and August of
1971, and it unveiled

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what is more popularly
known as the moon buggy.

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But with this lunar rover
utilizing the wheels

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tested here at Waterways,
astronauts James Irwin

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and David Scott covered more than 17 miles

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of the lunar surface on
this particular mission.

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Lunar roving vehicles
were used by astronauts

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on Apollo 15, 16, and 17 missions.

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In reference to the LRB,
astronaut Harrison Smith

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of Apollo 17 said, "A
lunar rover proved to be

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"the reliable, safe, and flexible
lunar exploration vehicle

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"we expected it to be.

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"Without it, the major
scientific discoveries

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"of Apollo 15, 16, and 17
would not have been possible."

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The wheels tested here
at Waterways led to NASA

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to request that Waterways
also conduct investigations

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into the mobility capabilities,
traction capabilities,

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of devices for use on the Mars rover.

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Here at Waterways, an
elasticized loop mobility system

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was tested, but deemed
unsuitable for use on Mars.

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The corps relationship
with NASA continues today,

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with the Engineering, Research,
and Development Center

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in Vicksburg working on
the LANDSAT satellites

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as well as computer
programs for use in space

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and 3D printing.

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- [Narrator] ERDC, discovering,
developing, and delivering

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new ways to make the world
safer and better every day.