Modular Equipment Transporter

Alan Shepard stands next to the Modular Equipment Transporter.

The 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. Designed after Apollo 12 astronauts Pete Conrad and Alan Bean had difficulties lugging their equipment significant distances to and from their Lunar Module, the MET primarily functioned as a portable workbench with a place for hand tools and their carrier, cameras, spare camera magazines, rock sample bags, environmental sample containers, and the portable magnetometer with its sensor and tripod.^[1] It was carried on Apollo 14 and planned to be used on Apollo 15, but was used only on Apollo 14, since Apollo 15's mission was changed to be the first to employ the motorized Lunar Roving Vehicle, which transported both astronauts and equipment.

Astronauts nicknamed the MET "the rickshaw". It was pulled using a pulling bar in the front. The majority of the payload of the MET consisted of the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package (ALSEP).^[2] The performance of the MET was described as "adequate".^[3] In fact, astronauts Alan Shepard and Edgar Mitchell were disappointed by the MET's performance. During one of the traverses they had to carry the MET together because it was too difficult to pull the MET through the rough lunar terrain.

Design criteria

Data from Operator's Manual By General Electric^[4]

Dimensional limits

• Max. Net Weight (Empty): 30 Earth lbs
• Max. Payload Capability: 340 Earth lbs
• Workable height: 30 in
• Stowage Envelope: 28" x 36" x 8"

Operation specifications

• Nominal Pulling Speed: 4-7 mph
• Nominal Draw Bar Pull: 3-5 mph
• Design Traverse 20,000 ft
• Capable of Traversing: up to 4" Diameter Rocks
• Tire Temperatures:
  • -60 °F on deployment
  • 0 °F to 200 °F when parked
  • 70 °F average when rolling
• Tire Pressure: 1.5 psia

Items stowed on MET

Data from Operator's Manual by General Electric^[5]

Line drawing of the Modular Equipment Transporter.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Modular Equipment Transporter.

Apollo program hardware
Vehicles	Apollo (spacecraft) Apollo Command/Service Module Apollo Lunar Module Lunar Escape Systems Lunar Roving Vehicle Saturn V
Vehicle components	Apollo Abort Guidance System Apollo Docking Mechanism Apollo Guidance Computer Primary Guidance, Navigation and Control System Apollo Telescope Mount Apollo TV camera Saturn Launch Vehicle Digital Computer Descent Propulsion System Ascent Propulsion System
Lunar surface	Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package Apollo/Skylab A7L (spacesuit) Beta cloth Lunar Laser Ranging experiment Modular Equipment Transporter Solar Wind Composition Experiment
Earth-based	Crawler-transporter Little Joe II Lunar Landing Research Vehicle Mobile Launcher Platform Mobile Quarantine Facility
Symbolic	Lunar plaque Lunar Flag Assembly Fallen Astronaut
Category:Apollo program