Posted on 12/14/2022 12:37:16 PM PST by MtnClimber
Explanation: Why is the Moon so dusty? On Earth, rocks are weathered by wind and water, creating soil and sand. On the Moon, the history of constant micrometeorite bombardment has blasted away at the rocky surface creating a layer of powdery lunar soil or regolith. For the Apollo astronauts and their equipment, the pervasive, fine, gritty dust was definitely a problem. Fifty years ago, on the lunar surface in December 1972, Apollo 17 astronauts Harrison Schmitt and Eugene Cernan needed to repair one of their rover's fenders in an effort to keep the rooster tails of dust away from themselves and their gear. This picture reveals the wheel and fender of their dust covered rover along with the ingenious application of spare maps, clamps, and a grey strip of "duct tape".
For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then move the magnifying glass cursor then click to zoom in and click again to zoom out. When zoomed in you can scan by moving the side bars on the bottom and right side of the image.
Duct tape can fix anything except stupid.
But it can silence stupid.
I’ve always wondered why they took a roll of tape to the moon. Every gram mattered, so they only took essentials. Did they anticipate the need for tape for unexpected repairs? I think the “Lunar Ace Hardware” was closed for inventory when they were there.
Why didn’t they just stay on the road? It doesn’t take a rocket surgeon to know you will kick up dirt if you go off-roading.
How does that work? Looks like it’s clamped to the turny part of the wheel.
And they probably had to duct tape a can of WD-40 to a wall somewhere inside the ship because nobody engineered a holder for it.
They didn’t even have to use the jack to do it!
It’s a good thing they had duct tape on Apollo 13, they needed it for their carbon dioxide scrubber.
That rover’s still up there. You can take it for a spin the next time you are on the Sea of Tranquility.
Just hope they didn’t leave the headlights on because you aren’t likely to find anyone to give you a jump.
“Did they anticipate the need for tape for unexpected repairs?”
Well, they were going down to the lunar surface in a craft that was not much thicker than tin foil. If they sprung a leak, well, that duct tape would have been worth more than almost anything else on the ship.
“And they probably had to duct tape a can of WD-40 to a wall somewhere inside the ship because nobody engineered a holder for it.”
They used Velcro.
https://www.nasa.gov/offices/ipp/home/myth_tang.html
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.