The Modular Equipment Transporter (MET) was a two-wheeled, hand-pulled vehicle that was used as an equipment hauling device on traverses across the lunar surface. Designed after Apollo 12 astronauts Pete Conrad and Alan Bean had difficulties lugging their equipment significant distances to and from their Lunar Module, the MET primarily functioned as a portable workbench with a place for hand tools and their carrier, cameras, spare camera magazines, rock sample bags, environmental sample containers, and the portable magnetometer with its sensor and tripod.[1] It was carried on the 1971 Apollo 14 mission and was planned to be used on Apollo 15, but was used only on Apollo 14 since Apollo 15's mission was changed to be the first to employ the motorized Lunar Roving Vehicle, which transported both astronauts and equipment.
Alan Shepard stands next to the Modular Equipment Transporter during the 1971 Apollo 14 missionCloseup of the MET
Astronauts nicknamed the MET "the rickshaw". It was pulled using a pulling bar in the front. The majority of the payload of the MET consisted of part of the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package (ALSEP).,[2] including a portable magnetometer, as well as various tools and space to transport samples. The performance of the MET was described as "adequate".[3] In fact, astronauts Alan Shepard and Edgar Mitchell were disappointed by the MET's performance. During one of the traverses they had to carry the MET together because it was too difficult to pull the MET through the rough lunar terrain.
The two nitrogen-filled rubber tires on the MET were the first tires on the Moon. They were designed by Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and called Experimental Lunar Tires (XLTs). The biggest challenge for Goodyear was NASA specifications required that the inner tube be inflated to 1.5 psi on the Moon surface-a difficult task. A tire with 1.5 psi on Earth has an inflation pressure of 16.2 psi on the Moon because atmospheric pressure (14.7 psi) isn't a factor there. Goodyear solved the gauge pressure problem by having NASA partially inflate the inner tube with nitrogen so that on the Moon it reached 1.5 psi. The tire maker gave the synthetic rubber tube a special coating to improve gas retention. These tires worked well for the small MET rickshaw. The later Lunar Roving Vehicle demanded wheels or tires that could handle a much greater weight and could travel much farther than the MET. NASA went with General Motors and they designed a wire-mesh wheel that didn't allow lunar dust to get stuck in the wheels.[4]
Line drawing of the Modular Equipment Transporter.
Referencesedit
^MODULAR EQUIPMENT TRANSPORTER OPERATOR'S FAMILIARIZATION MANUAL(PDF). Houston, Texas: GENERAL ELECTRIC. April 27, 1970. p. 2. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
^Shepard, Alan; Armstrong, Deke Slayton with Jay Barbree; introduction by Neil (2011). Moon shot : the inside story of America's Apollo moon landings (Revised ed.). Open Road. ISBN978-1-4532-5826-2.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^, Houston, Texas: NASA Manned Spacecraft Center, April 1971, archived from the original on 2011-10-24
^"Goodyears Landed on the Moon 25 Years Ago". www.tirebusiness.com. September 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
^ abMODULAR EQUIPMENT TRANSPORTER OPERATOR'S FAMILIARIZATION MANUAL(PDF). Houston, Texas: GENERAL ELECTRIC. April 27, 1970. p. 1. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
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November 13, 2023
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The Modular Equipment Transporter MET was a two wheeled hand pulled vehicle that was used as an equipment hauling device on traverses across the lunar surface Designed after Apollo 12 astronauts Pete Conrad and Alan Bean had difficulties lugging their equipment significant distances to and from their Lunar Module the MET primarily functioned as a portable workbench with a place for hand tools and their carrier cameras spare camera magazines rock sample bags environmental sample containers and the portable magnetometer with its sensor and tripod 1 It was carried on the 1971 Apollo 14 mission and was planned to be used on Apollo 15 but was used only on Apollo 14 since Apollo 15 s mission was changed to be the first to employ the motorized Lunar Roving Vehicle which transported both astronauts and equipment Alan Shepard stands next to the Modular Equipment Transporter during the 1971 Apollo 14 missionCloseup of the METAstronauts nicknamed the MET the rickshaw It was pulled using a pulling bar in the front The majority of the payload of the MET consisted of part of the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package ALSEP 2 including a portable magnetometer as well as various tools and space to transport samples The performance of the MET was described as adequate 3 In fact astronauts Alan Shepard and Edgar Mitchell were disappointed by the MET s performance During one of the traverses they had to carry the MET together because it was too difficult to pull the MET through the rough lunar terrain The two nitrogen filled rubber tires on the MET were the first tires on the Moon They were designed by Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and called Experimental Lunar Tires XLTs The biggest challenge for Goodyear was NASA specifications required that the inner tube be inflated to 1 5 psi on the Moon surface a difficult task A tire with 1 5 psi on Earth has an inflation pressure of 16 2 psi on the Moon because atmospheric pressure 14 7 psi isn t a factor there Goodyear solved the gauge pressure problem by having NASA partially inflate the inner tube with nitrogen so that on the Moon it reached 1 5 psi The tire maker gave the synthetic rubber tube a special coating to improve gas retention These tires worked well for the small MET rickshaw The later Lunar Roving Vehicle demanded wheels or tires that could handle a much greater weight and could travel much farther than the MET NASA went with General Motors and they designed a wire mesh wheel that didn t allow lunar dust to get stuck in the wheels 4 Contents 1 Design criteria 1 1 Dimensional limits 1 2 Operation specifications 2 Items stowed on MET 3 ReferencesDesign criteria editData from Operator s Manual By General Electric 5 Dimensional limits edit Max MET Weight Empty 30 Earth lbs Max Payload Capability 340 Earth lbs Workable height 30 in Stowage Envelope 28 in 36 in 8 in 710 mm 910 mm 200 mm Operation specifications edit Nominal Pulling Speed 4 7 mph Nominal Draw Bar Pull 3 5 mph Design Traverse 20 000 ft Capable of Traversing up to 4 Diameter Rocks Tire Temperatures 60 F on deployment 0 F to 200 F when parked 70 F average when rolling Tire Pressure 1 5 psiaItems stowed on MET editData from Operator s Manual by General Electric 5 Stowed Item Items Stowed Quantity Lunar Module Stowage Code1 Camera Power Pack 16 mm 1 on tool carrier Ascent A42 Magazine 16 mm 3 1 in camera Ascent A43 Camera 70 mm Hasselblad 1 Ascent F2B4 Magazine 70 mm 3 1 in camera Ascent F2B5 Handle 70 mm 1 Ascent F2B6 Trigger 70 mm 1 Ascent F2B7 RCU 70 mm Bracket 1 Ascent F9A8 Camera Assembly 1 Descent M1R9 Magazine Assembly 2 1 in camera Descent M1F10 Magazine Assembly Cover 1 Descent M1F11 RCU LGEC Bracket 1 Descent12 Camera Close up stereo 1 Descent M1N13 Weigh Bags 4 Descent M1P14 Trenching Tool 1 Descent M1W15 Special Environment Sample Container 2 Descent M1P16 Portable Magnetometer Tripod amp Sensor Cable Reel Electronics Package 1 Descent Adjacent Sequence Bay17 ALHTC 1 Descent ALSEP18 Camera Staff 1 Descent ALSEP19 Hammer 1 Descent M1K20 Scoop 1 Descent M1M21 Lens Brush 1 Descent ALSEP22 Tongs 1 Descent M1H23 Extension Handle 5 Descent M1G24 Core Tubes 2 Descent 1 in SRC25 35 Bag Dispenser 1 Descent M1T26 Penetrometer 1 Descent ALSEP27 Gnomon 1 Descent M1A27A Color Chart and Traverse Map 1 EA Descent ALSEP nbsp Line drawing of the Modular Equipment Transporter References edit MODULAR EQUIPMENT TRANSPORTER OPERATOR S FAMILIARIZATION MANUAL PDF Houston Texas GENERAL ELECTRIC April 27 1970 p 2 Retrieved 1 December 2014 Shepard Alan Armstrong Deke Slayton with Jay Barbree introduction by Neil 2011 Moon shot the inside story of America s Apollo moon landings Revised ed Open Road ISBN 978 1 4532 5826 2 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Lunar surface experiments Houston Texas NASA Manned Spacecraft Center April 1971 archived from the original on 2011 10 24 Goodyears Landed on the Moon 25 Years Ago www tirebusiness com September 2012 Retrieved 30 March 2019 a b MODULAR EQUIPMENT TRANSPORTER OPERATOR S FAMILIARIZATION MANUAL PDF Houston Texas GENERAL ELECTRIC April 27 1970 p 1 Retrieved 1 December 2014 nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Modular Equipment Transporter Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Modular Equipment Transporter amp oldid 1131192998, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
