Made in collaboration with NASA, this detailed Lego Technic build is based on the real lunar rover used on the Moon during the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. Astronauts haven’t set foot on the Moon since, so this replica commemorates an important piece of space exploration history.
When fully assembled, Lego’s replica of the Lunar Roving Vehicle measures 15 x 10 x 5.5 inches.
The bulk of the 1,913 pieces are used to build the large LRV, but this set also has a few modular components that can be detached and displayed separately. One cool aspect with the modular builds is that Lego included display plaques with information cards for the vehicle as well as the three detachable models: Forward Chassis, Lunar Communications Relay Unit (LCRU), and Aft Pallet Assembly.
The Forward Chassis includes the gyro and odometer navigation unit and the brush that cleaned Moon dust from the vehicle. The LCRU model has the TV camera, communications antenna, and the LRV’s battery pack. The Aft Pallet Assembly was used for experiments and features tools such as a drill and shovel, the Traverse Gravimeter, and a rock known as Big Muley, which was actually found on the Apollo 16 mission. The Traverse Gravimeter was used to conduct an experiment on the Moon’s composition beneath the surface.
The LRV has authentic steering, suspension, and wheels. You can display the vehicle upright on its wheels, but it can also be placed upside down by rotating the wheel axles, lowering the seat backrests, and folding the front and back portions. You can see LRV upside down alongside the three modules below.
Technic vehicle models have place a far greater emphasis on mechanical components than standard Lego sets. You’ll find a far larger quantity of non-traditional Lego pieces like pins and beams in these builds. This particular model is recommended for adults or experienced Lego Technic builders.