Re: And NOW, the Big 3 are doing what Packard couldn't do...

Posted by BigKev On 2009/4/4 21:05:42

On the subject of GM I just watched a documentary on the Science Channel about the lunar rover, and how GM was able to build a rover that could fit into a equipment storage locker on the Lunar Module that was a pie shape of 5" deep by 5" high. So basically the created a vehicle where the tires folder up over the body, and then both end of the rover folder in. Basically the entire thing was spring loaded, so when then opened the cargo locker, it just folder out, and sprung into place. It had 4 wheel steering, and open steel mesh tires that would shed lunar sand as they rolled.

GM basically built it on their own dime as Nasa has cancelled a plan for a bigger rover/mobile lab as it would have required it's own rocket, and would have had to be send ahead of the Apollo 15 to the moon. But GM wanted to contribute, so Nasa jokingly told them if you can build a rover that fit in this equipment locker, then sure. Thinking that no one could have serious built a rover that deal with the terrain, seat two, and fold up into a pie sharped compartment.

GM did it in 16 months.

I found it fascinating. It pretty scary to think that the Apollo missions went to the moon and back when the computing power on the command module was actually less powerful than a Commodore 64 computer. Basically a Ipod shuffle has much more computing power.

Back to the current economic crisis...already in progress.