November 10, 1970, the Soviet Union launched the first lunar rover called Lunokhod. Seen here is an illustration of the upper stage of the Proton rocket, carrying the landing platform and the rover.

The rover's batteries were charged by gallium arsenide solar panels. It had four cycloramic cameras that scanned panoramic images, and two television cameras in front used for navigation. The wheel and motor assembly, and the cycloramic camera shown here.

The rover landed on the 17th in the Mare Ibrium (sea of rains). It was operated remotely from a control center in Simferopol, Crimea. Traveling at a speed of 1/3 meter per sec, it would move 2 to 8 meters, then stop while pilots assessed images and planned the next move.

Panoramic images were sent slowly by a mechanical scanner that measured light with a photo-multiplier tube. The first images were taken while still atop the landing platform, then after rolling down its ramp.

The rover was operational from Nov 17, 1970 until Sept 14, 1971.