Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE

Image credit: Barbara David

Wait a minute!

Perhaps it is a case of re-inventing the wheel?

The European Space Agency (ESA) has been busy testing the Lunar Equipment Support Assembly (LESA).

The idea is to develop wheeled carriers to assist Artemis astronauts during moonwalks – a way to transport equipment and tools.

Image credit: ESA/Novespace

Recently tested is the LESA-NEST (Near-by Equipment Support Trolley), making use of parabolic flight in an aircraft to mimic the Moon’s one-sixth gravity.

In pre-flight training, Alan Shepard tries out the MET cart.
Image credit: NASA/Apollo Lunar Surface Journal

Rickshaw trouble

This ESA work may have all the makings of an Apollo 14 mission replay from 1971, one that served up deep dust and dubious results.

Apollo 14’s 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.

Drawing credit: NASA/Apollo Lunar Surface Journal

The MET earned the nickname by astronauts as the “the rickshaw”. It was hauled about by using a pulling bar in the front.

Field testing! Alan Shepard tries out MET cart.
Image credit: NASA/Apollo Lunar Surface Journal

But at one point, the MET was carried by both Apollo 14 moonwalkers – Alan Shepard and Edgar Mitchell. The MET was termed “adequate,” with Shepard and Mitchell disappointed by its performance. It was too difficult to pull the MET through the rough lunar terrain.

So big wheel (s) keep on turnin’…I’m thinking “carte blanche,” maybe even cart before the horse – but it’s Friday.

Apollo 14’s Alan Shepard next to Modular Equipment Transporter (MET)
Image credit: NASA