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Author
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Topic: Apollo Lunar Roving Vehicle: Goodyear vs. GM
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garymilgrom
Member Posts: 1966
From: Atlanta, GA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 11-15-2011 10:45 AM
   
Goodyear is running a series of ads that show (among other things) the Apollo lunar rover on the moon, and the text on the screen implies that these are Goodyear tires.But documents from the Apollo missions say that General Motors built the rover, including its tires. Note that it did not have pneumatic rubber tires as we know them, rather a woven mesh construction was used. Does anyone know the truth? Did Goodyear build them under contract to GM? Or perhaps Goodyear has recently paid for some kind of commercial endorsement? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 43576
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-15-2011 11:00 AM
Goodyear's claims to the lunar rover tires, in their advertising and in press statements, has been the subject of a considerable e-mailed conversation between several of the General Motors' retirees who actually designed and built the rover's wheels.I was brought into the discussion only because one of our articles cited Goodyear's statements. Goodyear made contributions to rover designs (Surveyor Lunar Roving Vehicle and Mobile Lunar Laboratory, or MOLAB) that preceded but didn't influence the Apollo Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV). It's therefore not clear what Goodyear is basing its claims on, other than perhaps a misunderstanding over what rover(s) they had participated in. I believe David Clow is writing an article for Quest: The History of Spaceflight Quarterly about General Motors Defense Research Laboratory and the history of the rover's development. |
Neil Aldrin
Member Posts: 84
From:
Registered: Feb 2010
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posted 11-17-2011 06:39 PM
Is it possible that Goodyear tires were used on the Earth-based rover "trainers"? Didn't those rovers have pneumatic tires?If that is the case it's quite an advertising stretch. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3324
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 11-17-2011 06:46 PM
I think Goodyear made the tires for the Apollo 14 MET. I recall seeing a full-page newspaper ad back then with the slogan First on Earth. First on the Moon. I am pretty sure it was a Goodyear ad and I am pretty sure it was about the MET. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 43576
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-17-2011 08:28 PM
Goodyear's corporate timeline does include: The first tires on the moon — Apollo 14's MET (Modularized Equipment Transporter) was shod with Goodyear's XLT Tires. NASA/TM 2009-215798 "The Development of Wheels for the Lunar Roving Vehicle" establishes that the wheel design for the MET and the LRV were "distinctly different." So it would seem that while Goodyear has a bona fide claim to tires on the moon, it is still incorrect to imply they were on a rover. |
David Carey
Member Posts: 802
From:
Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 11-17-2011 11:32 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
I believe David Clow is writing an article for Quest: The History of Spaceflight Quarterly about General Motors Defense Research Laboratory and the history of the rover's development.
David published one article in Quest already (Vol 18, Number 1 / 2011) about Ferenc Pavlics and his work at GM Defense Research Laboratory (renamed to AC-Electronics Defense Research Laboratory in May 1968 and LRV Prime Contractor). A great writeup/interview and to quote: Boeing would handle the power system, navigation, communication, and integration with the LM, and GM would do the vehicle itself including the chassis, wheels, suspension, steering, electric drive, controls, and displays. The only mention of Goodyear in the article that I could find was that... Pavlics brought his tire to Akron where he tutored engineers at Goodyear on the finer points of its manufacture. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3324
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 11-18-2011 06:20 AM
I am not sure what Goodyear was claiming with respect to the rover. What was the exact wording of the commercial? It might not be running in other countries.KSC-70C-156BW is a pre-launch NASA photo of the Apollo 14 MET installed on the Lunar Module. You can clearly see the Goodyear logo on the tires. |
spaceman1953
Member Posts: 953
From: South Bend, IN
Registered: Apr 2002
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posted 11-19-2011 06:35 PM
There were a couple/several different Lunar Rover mockups made by different companies trying to secure the bid for the eventual LRVs. Could Goodyear have been involved in making tires for some of those other rejected LRVs?I am sure there are those of you "out there" know know way more about this than I do! |
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